Essentially the most steadily talked about phrase by the vice presidential candidates throughout Tuesday’s debate, excluding routine and customary phrases, was “Trump.”
Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio stated former President Donald Trump’s identify 66 occasions in a rigorous protection of his working mate’s file, greater than the 44 occasions he talked about Vice President Kamala Harris. Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was heavier on critiques of Trump, naming him 44 occasions and saying Harris’ identify 28 occasions.
Walz took certainly one of his first alternatives on a nationwide stage to speak about his expertise governing Minnesota, mentioning the state’s identify 26 occasions. Vance stated “Ohio” 5 occasions.
To take a more in-depth have a look at the vice presidential candidates’ rhetoric, CBS Information analyzed the phrases they used of their solely scheduled debate, and in contrast it to the phrases the presidential candidates used within the Sept. 10 debate. Here is what we discovered.
Breaking down the phrases by matter
Like Trump did in the course of the presidential debate, Vance emphasised the problem of immigration, saying the phrase “border” 20 occasions, which was greater than Trump’s 12 mentions.
Seven occasions, Vance stated “thousands and thousands” of individuals have been getting into the U.S. illegally. He additionally echoed Trump’s false declare that the variety of undocumented immigrants within the U.S. is over 20 million. The precise quantity is nearer to 11 million.
Vance described undocumented immigrants as “aliens” seven occasions, a time period Trump solely used as soon as in his debate in opposition to Harris.
Walz didn’t use the phrases “unlawful” or “alien” in any respect, nor did Harris. Walz responded to questions on immigration by emphasizing Trump’s efforts to stop the bipartisan border invoice from passing Congress, saying “invoice” in reference to it eight occasions.
The vice presidential candidates mirrored their working mates’ approaches when it got here to language round abortion. Vance stated he needed the U.S. to be extra “pro-family” and “pro-baby,” and his rhetoric mirrored that. He stated “child” or “household” 10 occasions within the context of abortion.
Like Harris, Walz mentioned abortion when it comes to ladies’s rights, saying the phrase “ladies” or “lady” 9 occasions. He additionally described abortion as “well being care” 4 occasions, one thing neither Vance or Trump did.
When speaking concerning the financial system, Vance targeted on excessive costs, mentioning “value” 10 occasions and “afford” or “unaffordable” 19 occasions, echoing frequent criticisms of rising costs in the course of the Biden-Harris administration. Whereas inflation spiked in the course of the first two years of Biden’s presidency, it’s now at its lowest level since March 2021.
Walz’s rebuttals talked about the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to barter drug costs, referencing prescription “medication” or “insulin” six occasions. He additionally repeatedly emphasised job progress in the course of the administration all through the talk, utilizing the phrase “jobs” seven occasions.
The vice presidential candidates additionally mentioned housing, extra so than their working mates. Walz stated “home” or “house” 28 occasions within the context of housing; Vance used these phrases 26 occasions.
Extra time was devoted to local weather change than in both of the presidential debates this 12 months. Vance targeted on “power,” utilizing the phrase 12 occasions. He additionally used the phrase “clear” eight occasions when speaking about local weather. Each candidates stated the phrase “local weather” 4 occasions, a phrase Trump didn’t point out in both of his debates this 12 months.
How the candidates referred to one another and their working mates
In whole, Walz and Vance talked about Trump 110 occasions; greater than double the variety of occasions Harris and Trump stated the previous president’s identify of their debate.
Harris was talked about by identify 72 occasions, nearly at all times by her full identify. Vance typically referred to the Biden administration because the Harris administration, whereas President Biden solely obtained seven mentions whole from the vice presidential candidates.
Vance additionally steadily addressed the moderators by identify, saying “Margaret” 21 occasions and “Norah” eight occasions.
When it got here to addressing one another, Vance referred to Walz by his first identify, Tim, 17 occasions, and by his full identify or as “Governor Walz” 20 occasions. Walz referred to his opponent solely as “Senator Vance” 15 occasions.