US vice presidential candidates focus on policy issues in first, only debate

NEW YORK - US vice presidential candidates for the 2024 presidential election staged their first and only debate on Tuesday night at CBS Broadcast Center in New York, focusing on a wide range of policy issues.

Republican Ohio Senator JD Vance, 40, and Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, 60, largely defended their respective presidential candidates and attacked the presidential candidate from the other side rather than attacking each other directly.

The debate started with foreign policy and escalating tensions in the Middle East, followed by climate change and the impact of Hurricane Helene.

The debate also covered immigration and border control, the economy, leadership, abortion, gun violence, inflation, housing, health insurance, child care and the election itself. The two candidates had a civil debate, with handshakes at the beginning and end of the 90-minute debate. Vance and Walz even found common ground or agreement on some issues.

Still, the mics were muted as the two had heated exchanges on proposed mass deportation of illegal immigrants and didn't stop after time expired.

Following their first presidential debate in Philadelphia on Sept 10, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are not expected to have another debate, with the general election five weeks away.

Currently, support for Harris and Trump remains neck and neck in major swing states, and it's unclear whether Tuesday's debate will widen the differences in the presidential race.

Tamara Peterson, a Brooklyn resident, told Xinhua, "There's a lot of attacks in the campaign and a lot of lies that are being told, and people don't know what to believe anymore. And I think once someone says it, they think it's the truth." Peterson stressed the need to do research and fact-check.

"In the past. I don't think the Vice President makes a huge amount of difference, but I think in this situation, it does, and I think this will help people, really, to understand what they stand for," said Peterson.

When asked what this country needs the most right now, Peterson said "unity."

"We need someone in power who's not trying to separate us, who's trying to bring us together, and who cares about us," added Peterson.

The US general election for 2024 is scheduled to take place on Nov 5, with early voting beginning on Sept 20 in Minnesota, South Dakota and Virginia.