JD Vance and faced off in a policy-focused and relatively cordial vice presidential debate on Tuesday night that presented an opportunity for the campaigns to build momentum in a race where polls have barely budged. Kamala Harris has seen a modest, yet consistent, national polling lead since replacing President at the top of the Democratic ticket in July. She saw a slight polling bounce after the debate against Trump, when she was perceived as the winner.
But in the swing states that will determine the outcome, the race remains a toss-up. The debate came in the midst a chaotic week both at home and abroad. Hurricane Helene brought devastation to large swaths of the Southeastern U.
S., including the critical swing states Georgia and North Carolina. Overseas, tensions are boiling over in the Middle East, where an escalating regional conflict between Iran and Israel threatens to shake up the race in an October surprise.
Meanwhile, a prolonged strike of dockworkers at ports up and down the East Coast has the potential to throw supply chains into chaos at the worst possible time for the Biden administration. The 2024 race presents a political oddity—typically, presidential candidates would face off in at least two or three debates, with one following the vice presidential debate. Trump and Harris have only debated once thus far, and Trump has declined another debate against Harris.
This means the vice presidential debate may have been the campaigns' last chance to present their v.