CNN host Jake Tapper coughed up a compliment to Sen. JD Vance, calling his oratory skills “slicker” than his Democrat rival Tim Walz following Tuesday’s CBS-hosted vice presidential debate.
While Tapper refused to call the debate for Vance in CNN’s post-debate analysis, the anchor characterized the 90-minute televised sparring session as “largely kind of agreeable” but noted that the Republican vice presidential candidate was “clearly the more experienced debater.”
“Despite months of rather vicious and nasty attacks between Sen. Vance and Gov. Walz, they tonight were largely kind and agreeable with each other,” Tapper said. “Vance clearly, I think it needs to be said, clearly the more experienced debater, the slicker speaker.”
Vance, 40, gave a steady and lawyerly presentation of his the Trump campaign’s positions and was seen by many as the victor.
Meanwhile, the 60-year-old Walz appeared nervous at times and fidgety, even calling himself a “knucklehead” during the debate.
The Minnesota governor, who has honed a folksy demeanor on the campaign trail, misspoke at times as he took frantic notes and looked uneasy in CBS’s Broadcasting Studio in Midtown.
“I’ve become friends with school shooters,” Walz declared — when he seemed to mean victims — during an answer about gun control.
The disastrous soundbite was one of many flubs by Kamala Harris’ running mate.
“Walz looks rusty and nervous. Maybe he should have done some press interviews to better prepare,” tweeted Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin — noting the relative sparsity of Walz’s media engagements.
According to Mediaite, a CNN instant poll found 51% of viewers hailed Vance as the winner versus 49% for Walz.
Walz’s performance fell short of viewer expectations, as 54% had predicted a Walz victory before the debate versus just 45% for Vance, the outlet reported.