Vice Presidential Debate Fires Up Students
Reactions to the VP Debate Unfold in Real Time in the Winston Room
The Winston Room on Tuesday, October 1, was once again buzzing with St. Lawrence University students during the Vice-Presidential Debate Watch Party organized by SLU-Dems and The Hub. The debate was held in the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.
With barely over a month remaining until the Presidential Elections on November 3, the night was especially consequential for candidates on either side of the party ticket. Democratic vice-presidential nominee Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his Republican counterpart Ohio Senator J.D Vance had much to prove about their party’s ability to meet the needs of the average American voter.
Similar to the presidential debate watch party on September 10, BINGO cards and refreshments were distributed among the participants. In a night largely free from constant interruptions and name-calling, the two VP candidates sparred on policy and the shortcomings of their opponents’ time at the White House. There were also moments where the candidates found common ground, particularly with regards to the potency of gun violence and the housing crisis.
Nonetheless, there were contentious moments. Near the end, Senator Vance seemingly refused to answer his opponent’s questions about the events of January 6. Vance once again spoke of the legal status of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio and was fact-checked by moderator Margaret Brennan, much to his ire. Even Governor Walz had his moments of awkwardness, particularly in his answer about the veracity of his claims of being in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.
There were also some positive outcomes from this debate, particularly as it signalled a potential return to a civility in American political discourse. Governor Walz, though visibly nervous in his opening moments, grew more comfortable over the course of the debate. His strongest moments came during his defence of abortion rights and the Capitol riots. He will soon return to the campaign trail, where his folksy persona is more likely to be received well.
According to major news outlets such as the BBC and CNN, however, it seemed that the debate’s true winner was, in fact, Senator Vance. Viewers found him well-spoken, and a seasoned debater. As one of the potential future faces of the Republican party, his performance has come as a welcome relief from his more notorious moments of disparaging Harris as a “childless-cat lady” whilst campaigning.
Despite Vance’s relative eloquence, however, there were criticisms about his rhetoric. Alexander Ferguson ‘26, on behalf of SLU-Dems, says,” Senator Vance appeared to have a less concrete idea of how his administration would implement solutions for issues facing the American public. He finds that Walz’s responses, though not as well-rehearsed, appeared more genuine and thoughtful.
As the Presidential candidates and their Vice Presidential colleagues reveal more about their agenda, it seems that SLU students will have much to look forward to during the next few weeks as they gear towards participating in what will surely be a memorable period during their time in college.