The first and only vice presidential debate of the 2024 election saw Ohio Senator JD Vance, the Republican nominee, face a mixed response from voters for his stance on immigration. During his exchange with Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Vance argued for the need to “stop the bleeding” at the border, advocating for a return to former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
Real-time data gathered by Fox News debate dials, which track the reactions of Republican, Democratic, and Independent voters, revealed a clear division. Republican viewers showed immediate approval of Vance’s comments, while Democratic viewers expressed disapproval. Independents, meanwhile, were more divided, with roughly half agreeing with Vance’s position.
Vance’s argument gained more traction among Independent voters when he specifically mentioned Trump’s border policies, advocating for their reinstatement. He proposed “reimplementing Donald Trump’s border policies, building the wall, reimplementing deportations.” This statement was well-received by Republicans, while Democrats remained opposed.
Further, Vance’s focus on deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes garnered a more favorable response across the political spectrum. He stated, “We start with the criminal migrants… About a million of those people have committed some form of crime in addition to crossing the border illegally, I think you start for deportations on those folks.” This statement earned strong support from Republicans, a positive response from Independents, and even a slight improvement in approval among Democratic viewers.
The debate highlights the deeply partisan nature of the immigration issue, with Republicans largely favoring stricter policies and Democrats generally advocating for a more lenient approach. The mixed response from Independent voters underscores the complexity of the issue and the challenges both candidates will face in winning over this critical demographic in the upcoming election.
