In the midst of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Democrat vice-presidential candidate and Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz emphasized the necessity for the US to maintain its presence in the Middle East on Tuesday (local time). Meanwhile, Republican vice-presidential candidate and Ohio Senator JD Vance stated that it would be up to Israel to decide whether to launch a preemptive strike against Iran following Iran's missile launch towards Israel, as reported by CNN.
On Tuesday, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles targeting Israel, prompting close coordination between the US military and the Israeli Defence Forces to defend against the attack. US Naval destroyers and Israeli air defence units jointly fired interceptors to neutralize the inbound missiles.
In their first and only debate before the 2024 election in November, both US vice-presidential candidates, Walz and Vance, made their case to American voters. Walz reiterated his running mate, Vice-President Kamala Harris' proposals, while Vance argued that former President Donald Trump is the superior choice to address key issues.
The debate concluded with a discussion on whether Donald J. Trump's refusal to concede power after losing the 2020 election posed a threat to democracy, according to The New York Times. The candidates debated various issues affecting American voters during the 2024 campaign, including the Middle East, abortion, the economy, immigration, and climate change.
When questioned about abortion during the debate, Walz defended his state's comprehensive abortion-rights law and criticized former President Trump's stance on the issue. He highlighted the consequences of abortion bans enacted in several states following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Walz also defended his record on abortion as Minnesota's governor and criticized Project 2025, asserting that his ticket is 'pro-women' and 'pro-freedom to make your own choice,' promising to restore Roe v. Wade. Vance, on the other hand, advocated for Republicans to be 'pro-family in the fullest sense of the world,' promoting policies that make having children more affordable and providing women with 'more options.'
Walz also criticized Trump's immigration policies, noting the former president's successful obstruction of a bipartisan border deal in the Senate. Vance continued to criticize Harris and the Biden administration's handling of the border issue but declined to answer whether he would support a child separation policy. The governor repeatedly referenced Vance's past comments, including those about not liking Trump, to undermine his credibility. Vance defended himself, acknowledging that he had been 'extremely open about the fact that I was wrong about Donald Trump.'
Before accepting Trump's nomination as the US vice-presidential candidate, Vance had been highly critical of the former president. However, after years of criticism, Vance embraced Trump's populist ideology. Trump officially selected JD Vance as his running mate on July 15, confirming the decision through a post on Truth Social.
During the debate, Vance described the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene as 'an unbelievable, unspeakable human tragedy' without directly addressing the role of climate change. In contrast, Walz praised Harris' efforts on climate change and criticized Trump's previous assertion that the issue was 'a hoax.' Vance argued that Trump's economic plan would alleviate the cost-of-living crisis on his first day in office, promising historic tariffs and the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants. Walz defended Harris' proposals, emphasizing that his running mate is committed to the middle class, with plans to make housing and homeownership more affordable and reduce taxes.
The debate, hosted by CBS News, took place in New York without a live audience. Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Walz, 60, was chosen from a list of probable candidates with better recognition and from politically advantageous states. Harris secured her party's nomination for president, receiving the support of 99% of the 4,567 delegates who voted at the Democratic National Convention. This followed President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race due to concerns over his age, particularly after his poor performance in the debate with Donald Trump in June. Meanwhile, Trump is aiming for a return to the White House after a contentious exit in 2020.
