“Cordial” VP Debate Described As “Detour Into Substance”

It was a cordial debate of the kind people mostly say they want.

CBS Chief Political Analyst and senior national correspondent, John Dickerson, as the one, and only, vice presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle came to a close.

Why It Matters: The 90-minute debate spanned a variety of questions, including school shootings, immigration and potential war in the Middle East. Notably absent from discussion by the moderators (and the candidates alike): the war in Ukraine, China and its partnerships as well as the historic port strike impacting a wide swath of the eastern and southern United States, with ripple effects nationwide. The Associated Press described the debate in this way: “It was a wonky policy debate, with talk of risk pools, housing regulations and energy policy. … In an age of world-class disses optimized for social media, Tuesday’s debate was a detour into substance. Both candidates took a low-key approach and both enthusiastically delved into the minutiae. … It was a very different style than often seen in presidential debates over the past several election cycles.” (Read More)

Transcript for debate from CBS