Opinion editor’s note: Editorials represent the opinions of the Minnesota Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom.
As far as political cage matches go, Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate was genteel. Pundits of all stripes instantly labeled the encounter mostly cordial. Both the Democrat, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, and the Republican, U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, fulfilled their primary missions to elevate the candidate at the top of their respective tickets and, most crucially, do no harm.
Both men provided carefully scripted responses to questions they were eager to answer, while attempting to spin away from those they deemed quicksand. Topics raised for discussion included the environment, the Middle East, immigration, reproductive rights and the economy, providing both candidates the opportunity to reach voters who remain undecided.
With less than five weeks to the election, here is how members of the Minnesota Star Tribune Editorial Board viewed what is likely be the last face-to-face encounter between the two tickets.
A transition 20 minutes in defined the tone. Walz finished a thought and stopped speaking, only to be told: “Governor, your time is up.”
