Gov. Tim Walz had steady support from independents and Democratic debate watchers during his comments on immigration, except when he criticized former President Trump on the issue.
The focus group reacted live to Tuesday's vice presidential debate, pitting Democratic candidate Walz against Republican Sen. J.D. Vance.
Walz spoke about the immigration crisis during the debate, saying, “We all want to solve this. Most of us want to solve this.”
When Walz spoke about the issues of fentanyl and the opioid crisis, support among Democrats and independents was high.
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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks during a debate at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City on October 1, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla)
Walz saw a surge of support from both Democrats and independents when he said Vice President Kamala Harris was “the only person in this campaign to indict transnational gangs for human trafficking and drug interference.” .
For most of his statements on immigration, support among independent and Democratic respondents remained steady.
Sen. J.D. Vance and Gov. Tim Walz appear on a spin room screen during a debate at the CBS Broadcast Center on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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However, support for Walz among independents declined after Walz suggested that “Donald Trump said no to the border bill because it would become a campaign issue.''
“If we actually did these things, what would Donald Trump say?'' said Walz, whose support from independent viewers dropped significantly.
Senator J.D. Vance participates in a debate at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City on October 1, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“Donald Trump had four years. He had four years to do this. And he promised, America, how easy it would be. “We're going to build a wall, and Mexico will pay for it. The wall was built and Mexico didn't pay a dime,” Walz said, as Democratic viewers began to support him.
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Republican viewers maintained a positive view of Walz as he spoke about the immigration crisis.
