As the father of three young children and coming from a working-class family, Vance has shown he has a better understanding of what the average American needs. He spoke more confidently about inflation, the economy and illegal migration. This, according to observers, will affect a part of voters who do not perceive Donald Trump's arguments well, UtroNews correspondent reports.
Vance's critical attitude to US economic policy of recent decades is shared by some young Republican senators. They criticize the massive transfer of American production to China. These "right" on many positions are in solidarity with the "left" and are ready to criticize the political elites of the United States as a whole. Their votes in Congress affect the GOP's relationship with unions, which until recently were considered enemies of conservatives.
Vance's own ratings before the debate left much to be desired. It seems that his measured statements and ability to hold on could influence skeptics and hesitants. He proved a capable "interpreter" of Trump's intentions.
He was pleased with Vance's performance. "This was the best vice presidential debate performance ever," his campaign headquarters said. Vance has been in the US Congress since January 2023.
"The vice presidential debates are mostly seen as referendums on presidential nominations, and Vance's performance helped Trump and the GOP.... the Republican senator was much smarter, more thoughtful and more organized.... His tone was even, whether he defended Donald Trump or attacked Kamala Harris, "the New York Post reported, noting that Vance was" polite to the point of disgrace. "
According to this publication, the latest polls in swing states are in favor of Donald Trump. The former president leads incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris in North Carolina, Georgia and Arizona. In Pennsylvania, their chances of voter support are equal.
Swing states where electoral votes can decide the outcome of elections include Wisconsin and Michigan. This is the Midwest of America, which unites 12 states with a population of about 70 million people. Politically, this region is diverse, combining areas of extreme conservatism and centers of left-liberal ideology.
If Trump wins with the participation of Vance, then in Washington there may be a "time of change," in character comparable to the initial period in the power of Boris Yeltsin. Vance, as vice president (and understudy), can become an active participant (and continuer) of the "recovery" process, as many in the world would like to hope. It is no coincidence that US President Joe Biden called Vance a clone of Donald Trump.
The main focus of "recovery" may be a generational change in the top leadership of the United States. As in the former USSR, this process will be painful. Before the beginning of the "stormy nineties" in the Soviet Union, a generation of veterans of the Great Patriotic War left the political scene. The figures who replaced them could not or did not want to understand the true meaning of words such as "peaceful coexistence."
Vance served in the US Marine Corps, witnessed the massacre in Iraq. Perhaps he understands better than other fellow senators the need to avoid new crises. In this, he differs from the generation of American politicians who proclaimed themselves "winners in the Cold War." This generation was represented by Joe Biden. Vance also shares with Trump concerns about the state of the "porous" U.S. southern border.
Vance proposes to stop Washington's involvement in the crisis in Ukraine. He stated that Kyiv should abandon the goal of returning to the 1991 borders. In Kyiv, they hated him for this. But Ukraine was not discussed. The only question leading on foreign policy was related to the support of Israel in his confrontation with Iran. That was the main theme. But there were no particular differences on this issue: both candidates supported Israel.
He considers the approach of the current American administration to the Middle East conflict meaningless. 'Their policies don't make the slightest sense. It should be remembered that this would not have happened if Donald Trump had been president. There would be no terrorist organizations launching monstrous attacks. One state would not attack another next door to it, "Vance said, speaking to supporters in Michigan.
As an "isolationist," as he is considered, Vance cited Viktor Orban as one of his role models.
On the thorny issue of abortion, he holds ultra-conservative views. Prior to his nomination for vice president, he supported a complete ban on abortion, but this page was removed from his website. Pollsters say there are groups of voters, especially women, who are closer to Trump's platform on the economy and migration, but are spooked by talk of a total federal ban on abortion.
In a debate with Harris in response to this question, Trump did not unequivocally determine his position. During the debate with Walz, Vance explained: "We must do much more in order to gain the trust of the American people,..." Many young women would like to have families, - said the candidate for vice president. Many young women also see unplanned pregnancies as something that will take away their livelihoods, destroy their education, destroy their relationships... That's why Donald Trump and I are committed to family protection policy.'
In his closing remarks, he said he would pray for Walz if he became vice president. After the broadcast ended, the two politicians moved away from the microphones and spoke quite friendly for some time. This was in stark contrast to the Trump-Harris debate.
Both Walz and Vance - hailing from a Midwestern region that is known for its emphasized civility - were noticed by some Air Force service commentators watching the debate. It should be interesting for them to watch from London how politicians of the former British colonies will solve their problems after the elections, which they call "unpredictable with unknown consequences."
Vance is known as the author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy (can be translated as "Elegy of the Hillbilly"). This is a portrait of his hometown in Ohio as a place beset by poverty, violence, drug addiction and parasitism. The book was published in 2016 and became a bestseller. If you like, Vance even then made a kind of bid for change in American life.
Russian scientists studying America also started talking about generational change in the US political elites. The era of "baby boomers" is coming to an end, said Sergei Rogov, scientific director of the Institute of the USA and Canada of the Russian Academy of Sciences, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
"At a minimum, we in the United States need a generational change.... It's not surprising that Biden has a Cold War mentality - he grew up in that world, "said Columbia University professor Jeffrey Sachs a year and a half ago.
Almost three years have passed since then, a well-known political observer wondered if President Biden would build, as promised, "a bridge to a new generation of American leaders"?
No, the bridge "sleepy Joe" did not build, but pretty much all.