The debate between the candidates for Vice President of the United States, JD Vance and Tim Walz, has become one of the key moments of the 2024 American presidential campaign. The clash was not only a confrontation of two different visions of America, but also an attempt to win the hearts of voters at a key stage of the race for the White House just a month before the elections.
The vice presidential debate in the USA, organized last night Polish time by CBS News, lasted 90 minutes and was held mostly according to the same rules as the duels between Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris: the candidates clashed without the participation of the audience, without props or prepared notes, there were no opening statements either. Each politician had 2 minutes to answer and a minute to reply.
Vance and Walz – opposing visions of America
.J.D. Vance, senator from Ohio, represents conservative wing Republican Party and is a strong supporter of the “America First” policy. The Trump-Vance duo’s campaign focuses on returning to traditional American values, limiting immigration and reducing the role of the government in the economy. Vance, author of the best-selling book “Bidoc Elegy,” often refers to his humble origins when presenting himself as a working-class candidate; a candidate who will be the voice of a poorer America that has lost due to globalization and the transfer of production to China and other countries of the Global South.
Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, stands on the other side of the political spectrum. The campaign of the Harris-Walz duo is based on progressive demands, such as reform of the health care system, strengthening workers’ rights and fighting climate change. Walz refers to his long career in public service, emphasizing the importance of inclusiveness and cooperation across divisions, which his political career is the epitome of.
Vice presidential debate in the USA. Main topics
The debate was dominated by economic issues and foreign policy, which became crucial for both camps. JD Vance, criticizing the economic policy of the Joe Biden administration, whose vice-president is current candidate Kamala Harris, emphasized that the current government is unable to cope with rising food prices, inflation and the energy crisis that affects a significant part of American households. According to the Republican candidate, America I need a decisive response to China’s growing influence and rebuilding the domestic industry to overcome the current crisis.
Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, replied that Joe Biden’s policies have already led to a significant drop in unemployment and increased investment in infrastructure, which should ensure long-term economic growth. In his opinion, environmental protection policy is not an obstacle, but an opportunity to develop new, green technologies.
Experts say that the vice presidential debate, focused on the vision of the economic and foreign policies of the United States, was much more substantive than the previous clash between the main candidates, Kamila Harris and Donald Trump.
Influence on American foreign policy
.One of the hottest points of the debate was American policy towards China. JD Vance criticized Joe Biden’s strategy for being too gentle towards the growing influence of the Middle Kingdom, claiming that the US must more decisively oppose China’s aggressive policy in the international arena. Tim Walz, in turn, argued that confrontational rhetoric towards Beijing could lead to unnecessary escalation, and that diplomacy and cooperation are the key to maintaining global stability.
According to both progressive media such as the New York Times and Catholic media such as America magazine, the debate ended without a clear winner. However, the clash showed clear differences in the approach to the future of America and the world, which both candidates symbolize. The upcoming presidential elections in 2024, which will take place in just over a month, will be a decisive test of which of these visions will find greater support among American voters.
Vice presidential debate in the USA and elections about everything
American elections have long ceased to be solely a matter of American domestic policy. Both political and religious leaders around the world are commenting on the clash. Pope Francis recently spoke out on this matter, claiming that “American Catholics will have to choose the lesser of two evils.” These words were commented on by Jan Rokita in the “wszyst co most important” magazine, they write about the papal condemnation of the leaders of a global power, according to Jan Rokita, he protects the freedom of many nations.
prepared by Michał Kłosowski
Copyrighted material. Further distribution only with the publisher’s consent. October 2, 2024
