Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz stepped onto the brightest stage of their careers during their unusually civil vice-presidential debate last week.
The face-off largely went as expected: Vance sought to carry the banner for former President Donald Trump and conservatism, while Walz zeroed in on issues of importance to Democrats, seeking to boost Vice President Kamala Harris.
But while Walz attacked Trump right out of the gate, Vance took a more balanced approach: He promoted the former president’s brand of conservatism, but he also discussed his own philosophy.
Immediately after the debate, CNN political analyst and former Trump administration aide Alyssa Farah Griffin remarked on Vance’s ability to communicate with Trump’s supporters while also calling him a “chameleon” who sought to make inroads with more voters.
“I don’t know that this moves the needle, but I do think it solidifies his place as the MAGA heir apparent,” she said in a post-debate analysis.
Here’s a …