I didn’t like Donald Trump’s choice for vice president when I first saw that he had chosen Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
In July, during the Republican National Convention, I posted on X that Vance was an “awful pick for VP,” who wouldn’t reach voters who were unsure about Trump. I thought he’d come across as too zealous.
Boy, was I wrong. And I’ve never been happier to be wrong.
After Tuesday night’s debate against Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, all I could think was, forget Trump: I want Vance and his vision for America.
Voters should too.
Vance bested Walz on style and substance
Usually vice presidential debates are a yawn-fest. Nobody pays them much mind. But not this time.
Thanks to how poorly both Trump and Kamala Harris did during their last debate, the bar to exceed expectations was low. Vance greatly surpassed what I expected of him. Heck, even Walz did too, though Vance was the clear winner.
Kind, substantive, but at times lethal with his responses, Vance cut through Walz’s rhetoric. With empathy, he often admitted that the problems moderators presented were nuanced, that his opponent likely agreed with him on that basis, but their solutions were different.
Opinion poll: Who won the vice president debate? We want to hear from you.
Whether it was about the economy, immigration or even school shootings and gun control, both candidates seemed thoughtful, calm and interested more in an actual policy debate than name-calling, flip-flopping or obfuscating (with a couple exceptions). Because of the awful rhetoric we’ve heard from Trump since 2015, calm and thoughtful was stunning, but welcome.
Maybe it was the poverty-stricken Appalachian kid in him who’s been fighting to survive since he was young or the Yale University law graduate who’s mastered the art of persuasion, but the Vance we saw Tuesday night was the way all political debates should go.
Vance’s kindness and empathy were noticeable and a huge departure from Walz, Harris and Trump. Americans should feel calmness, relief and decisive strength from their political leaders. Vance embodied those characteristics.
This is the debate Americans deserved to understand the choices ahead of them. It’s the first debate in years where I’ve had real hope for America, thanks to the candidates’ demeanor.
Vance nailed most issues, from free speech to the economy
Vance’s attitude wasn’t his only strength. On most issues, he painted a picture of Americans even Democrats should love.
Unlike Harris, Walz or Trump, Vance had no trouble explaining his views in a way any American could understand. Vance has been traversing the country not just holding rallies but talking off the cuff to reporters and often fielding hostile questions. Thus, Vance presented clear, direct responses on complicated issues, like securing the border or fixing immigration. Walz has been walled off, living in a Democratic-sealed cocoon, and it showed.
Vance’s answer on censorship and Big Tech was excellent. “I believe we actually do have a threat to democracy in this country, but unfortunately it’s not the threat to democracy that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz want to talk about,” Vance said. “It is the threat of censorship. It’s Americans casting aside lifelong friendships because of disagreements about politics. It’s big technology companies silencing their fellow citizens, and it’s Kamala Harris saying that rather than debate and persuade her fellow Americans, she’d like to censor people who engage in misinformation.”
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As a working mom, I appreciated Vance’s thoughtful answer on paid family leave. I don’t think it should be federally mandated for all employers − we should incentivize companies to offer paid live to meet high employee demand − but Vance emphasized that women want choices in the workplace. Some mothers want different things than others. The fact that he mentioned choice demonstrates he’s experienced as a father and husband.
Vance reminded viewers that the economy under Trump was stronger − something that seems obvious to anyone with a wallet. And as wars rage around us, Vance reminded Americans that under Trump, we saw relative peace.
Vance’s strongest talking point was to simply remind Americans that Harris has had nearly four years to implement the ideas she now promotes as new. “[Harris] has been the vice president for three-and-a-half years. Day one was 1,400 days ago, and her policies have made these problems worse,” Vance said in his closing statement.
Opinion: Harris claims she’s for the middle class. Where’s she been for the past 4 years?
Vance did have one flaw, and it was significant.
He refused to condemn Trump for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, and for the former president’s refusal to admit that he lost the election in 2020.
It was the only time of the night that he seemed to hedge on the truth. He knew he had to trying defending Trump’s actions, but they are indefensible. Vance tried to walk the tight rope of deferring to his running mate while vowing that democracy is paramount. He didn’t succeed.
Voters don’t want Walz’s dishonesty or policies
Walz is a much better debater than Harris. But like Harris, he seemed to have only two modes: Be dishonest or present unsavory policies.
When asked why he claimed he was in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests, Walz mentioned growing up in a small town, joining the military and learning a lot. He obfuscated and said he was a “knucklehead.” When the moderator asked again, Walz appeared uncomfortable and couldn’t give a straight answer.
Though Walz admitted to being a hunter and pro-Second Amendment, when it came to school shootings, he blamed guns rather than criminals. He said he’d become friends with school shooters. He obviously misspoke, but the rest of his answer didn’t provide any real solutions to resolve violence at schools.
Walz is a progressive leftist rivaling the likes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Don’t let his Midwestern image fool you.
Vance for president?
By contrast, in Vance’s America, working women are respected, the sanctity of life is emphasized, taxes are low and the border is secure.
In Vance’s America, disagreement is inevitable but so are kindness and empathy. In Vance’s America, it’s us against the world, not a civil war on our own soil or even on the debate stage.
Tuesday’s debate gives me hope that there is a path forward that does not include name-calling or flip-flopping on hard issues.
If only the Republican ticket were reversed.
Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Opinion: Vance won debate last night. He’s better for us than Trump
