America News Agency

It was a civil and policy-focused showdown, with the candidates asked about the Middle East, Hurricane Helen's devastation, abortion, and the economy as they made their pitches to voters just five weeks before Election Day.

The pair focused largely on substance rather than personal attacks, but traded barbs on a number of important issues before concluding with a tense exchange about the January 6 storming of the convention.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Walz warned of Donald Trump’s threats to democracy, and Republican candidate Vance turned the topic to censorship.

The microphones initially cut out during a contentious back-and-forth, including a fact-check from the moderators about Haitian immigrants in Ohio.

Registered voters who watched Tuesday’s debate between vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and J.D. Vance were split on which candidate performed better, with 51 percent saying Vance did a better job and 49 percent choosing Walz, according to a CNN live debate viewer poll conducted by SSRS.

Before the debate, those same voters expected Walz to perform stronger, 54 percent to 45 percent.