### High Stakes as Voters Tune Into Vice Presidential Debate

In an intensely polarized political landscape, many voters are set to watch Tuesday night's vice presidential debate, eager to gather insights about the candidates. While some viewers are undoubtedly rooting for their own side or hoping for their opponent to falter, the overarching goal for many is to learn more about the contenders.

The debate, moderated by CBS News, pits Minnesota Governor Tim Walz against Ohio Senator JD Vance. Both nominees enter the showdown with strong backing from within their parties. A significant majority of Democrats feel that Walz enhances their ticket, while most Republicans believe Vance does the same for theirs. However, despite being generally seen as competent, neither candidate has yet assured a majority of voters of their readiness to assume the presidency if necessary.

Walz appears to have a slight edge coming into the debate. Democratic enthusiasm for him has increased since his nomination, whereas Vance's approval among Republicans has remained steady. Furthermore, Vance garners more excitement from MAGA Republicans than from non-MAGA Republicans.

Nearly all debate watchers aim to glean new information about the candidates, with roughly a quarter of them hoping to find details that will help solidify their voting decisions. Issues expected to dominate discussions include the economy, immigration, and broader ideological visions for the country. There is little interest, however, in personal anecdotes, family histories, or military service comparisons.

Although partisanship runs high with both camps cheering for their own, voters express more interest in policy stances than in personal attacks. Governor Walz is perceived as a greater asset to the Democratic ticket than Senator Vance is to the Republican ticket. Broad consensus among voters gives Walz the advantage on this front, with Democrats notably more inclined to say Walz strengthens their ticket than Republicans are to say the same of Vance.

This debate also highlights a gender gap in candidate preference: women are 10 points more likely than men to personally like Walz, while men are more inclined than women to favor Vance.

A significant finding from the CBS News/YouGov survey is the heightened sense of importance surrounding this election. Two-thirds of voters believe that voting in this election holds more consequence compared to the presidential election four years ago. The survey gathered responses from a representative sample of 2,011 registered voters nationwide between September 25-27, 2024, with a margin of error of ±2.7 points.