The Oct. 1 CBS News event was hosted by Norah O'Donnell, of CBS Evening News, and Margaret Brennan, of Face the Nation (and once again the moderators became part of the story too).

While both were plainspoken and civil, Vance provided a crisp defense of former President Donald Trump's America First policies while Walz, in defending the policies of the administration co-helmed by his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, stumbled at times.

Vance's dominant debate performance earned him rare praise from some liberal media outlets.

A majority of columnist and contributors, nine out of thirteen, surveyed by The New York Times said Vance won the debate.