Editorial: October 4, 2024: Signs of Hope [Video]

FOUR. THIS IS A WCVB CHANNEL 5 EDITORIAL SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD. WCVB PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER KYLE GRIMES. FINALLY, A DEBATE THAT ACTUALLY SOUNDED LIKE, WELL, A DEBATE. TUESDAY’S VICE PRESIDENTIAL SHOWDOWN BETWEEN REPUBLICAN JD VANCE AND DEMOCRAT TIM WALZ FEATURED POLICY, SUBSTANCE AND RARE FOR OUR TIMES CIVILITY. IT WAS THE KIND OF DEBATE AMERICAN VOTERS USED TO EXPECT FROM OUR CANDIDATES BEFORE 2016, WHEN POLITICAL EVENTS BECAME MOLOTOV COCKTAIL PARTIES TO BE SURE, THE TWO CANDIDATES SPARRED, HIGHLIGHTING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEIR TWO BOSSES, OUTLINING THEIR POSITIONS ON BORDER SECURITY, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND THE ECONOMY. BUT THORNY, DIVISIVE ISSUES LIKE GUN VIOLENCE AND SCHOOLS PRODUCED MOMENTS OF HUMANITY AND HOPE THAT BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS MAY 1ST DAY BE POSSIBLE. OF COURSE, THIS WAS THE UNDERCARD, AND AS REFRESHING AS TUESDAY NIGHT’S DEBATE WAS, IT DOESN’T REFLECT THE FULL REALITY OF THE 2024 ELECTION. VANCE DID …