Foreign Press Reactions to the Debate

An overview of reactions to last night's Vice Presidential candidates' debate.

Most foreign observers note that the encounter was much more civilized, polished and nearly old-fashioned. They also mostly agree that this format without much fact-checking works in favor of Vance because he can nearly completely avoid or work around the difficult questions, while Walz is less self-confident with this type of debate. Both rose to the occasion but Vance won on points because he showed his polished, aloof side with more success than Walz. Arguably, Walz came out as the most down-to-the ground trustworthy of the two, because he mostly stayed on topic and does not have the arrogant, detached air that his opponent easily musters for the occasion.

‘Eat chalk, speak nicely’ Image by freepik.com

La Repubblica, Italy calls it a draw and was unimpressed with a Walz that they think was not energetic and outgoing enough. They say this will likely not change anything, and that the presidential race is still very undecided. The polls are not convincing, but La Repubblica does not cite any deeper analysis of the results and why they do not see any tendency in the polls.

“Tone makes the music,” the old adage of concert halls sums up the evening of the debate between the candidates for the 2024 American vice presidency.

Tough in substance, the face-to-face, on the CBS TV network, did not have insults, sneers, vulgarity, rancor, now customary in US politics, returning to a formal, decent, respectful approach for the opponent, demolished in the years of the populism of former President Donald Trump.

Vance, 40, won on points, radiant, self-confident in his answers, able to concede that, if defeated, he would willingly give “prayers and help” to his rival Walz, who instead appeared at times nice, but slow, awkward, old, despite being 60 years old, a good 18 years younger than Trump. The final appeal, with Vance blaming Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for the inflation and economic difficulties complained of by millions of citizens, resonates with the base of the uncertain and independents, while Walz's attempt to reduce the opponent to a clone of Trump did not always take off. (La Repubblica)

Dagens Nyheter, Sweden also speaks about the ‘tone’ of the campaign and why it has changed. Somehow, the commentator Karin Eriksson finds her way to stating that the Swedish roots of Walz may be behind his relatively calm and measured demeanor at this occasion. Not to mention that Walz missed opportunities to get on the offensive against Vance, wondering what was going on there. “Polite and friendly, but a bit closed off and passive-aggressive.”

The vice presidential debate between Walz and Vance became a contest between two adults in the room. The polite tone of the discussion reflects a shift in the electoral movement in the United States. … Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz left the podium shaking hands and chatting. And smiled. And laughed! And introduced their wives to each other. So this happened in the United States of polarization, with 35 days left until a dramatic election, where the top candidates are Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. It was far from the only moment of warmth or friendliness between the two debaters.

But anyone who expected JD Vance to act as a pitbull terrier for Donald Trump was probably disappointed or surprised. Perhaps the vice-presidential candidate was tired of all the parallels to pets after his earlier rants about cat women and dog meals in the city of Springfield, Ohio. It is clear that he wanted to take the chance to appear as a worthy representative of the White House, rather than the cuckoo that Walz has painted him as. A Trump with a human face - with features of the "compassionate conservatism" that the Bush camp campaigned on 25 years ago.

Walz, Governor of Minnesota, was the perfect opponent. "Minnesota Nice" is an expression that captures the lived culture of the northern Midwest. As a Swede, it's not hard to recognize the descriptions of the locals in the most Scandinavian of American states: Polite and friendly, but a little tight-lipped and passive-aggressive. Walz, with a Swedish accent, usually comes across as more spontaneous than the stereotype. He has not shied away from making harsh jokes about rival JD Vance in various election speeches. But last night he was tidy and friendly – ​​perhaps too tidy and friendly, according to some internal critics.

In a new CNN poll, seven out of ten Trump voters emphasize that they are voting for the former president, rather than against rival Harris. Six in 10 Harris voters say they are primarily voting for the vice president, rather than against Trump. (Dagens Nyheter)

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany uses the German phrase ‘he has eaten chalk’ about Vance, to illustrate that he spoke like a well-behaved schoolboy that the schoolmaster has ordered to eat chalk as a punishment for foul speaking at earlier occasions. Everything went very politely, something unseen before in this campaign. “The TV duel between the running mates of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump was factual, at times even polite. Until it came to January 6, 2021.” (FAZ)

The Guardian, UK also acknowledges that there was more substance in this debate than the previous ones, and that a more polished Vance came out better because of this sleekness and training in this form of debate.

Vance, the Ohio senator who has been a regular on rightwing news channels for years, was polished from the off, comfortably dodging a question about whether he believes the climate crisis is a “hoax” to lament how much money has been spent on solar panels. At the outset Vance, wearing a sharp blue suit, a pink tie, plenty of make-up and hair gel, looked the more polished performer. Walz, a former high school teacher and football coach, cut a more bustling figure in a loose black suit.

Walz rose to the vice-presidential nomination, in part, through his confident appearances on cable news – it was from there that his famous “weird” characterization of Vance and Trump was born – but appeared initially nervous, and did not reprise his searing critique of his opponents. (Guardian)

Down to the essence

Seen from a distance, the European view of the Vice Presidential debate is lukewarm or even disappointed. Not necessarily because there was less spectacle than expected or hoped for by the press, but also that. The reporting is more towards indicating, indirectly, that this debate was intended to back up the Presidential candidates, but ended up being a showcase for Vance, for him to demonstrate composure and empathy. Trump may not notice, because - we may say - he lacks the ability to grasp those concepts. But Vance was really preparing the case for himself as the 2028 candidate. Trump will not notice, but Vance effectively wiped Trump off the blackboard with his chalk-whitened oratory, attempting to push himself onto the center stage.