As the Trump campaign proudly noted after Tuesday’s vice presidential debate, “JD Vance wiped the floor with Tim Walz.” Not only did the Ohio senator earn praise from a host of right-leaning commentators, but even liberal media admitted he did very well. ABC’s Jonathan Karl, for example, said Tim Walz came across as “unsteady” and clearly has not spent much time on the national stage, whereas Vance “was very smooth.” Politico admitted “JD Vance is doing really well tonight.” CNN’s Abby Phillip observed Walz seemed unprepared for the showdown whereas Vance successfully landed “a bunch of punches." The network’s Dana Bash, meanwhile, noted Democrats “were not thrilled.” And we could go on. But at the end of the day it’s not media figures Vance needed to win over, but voters, of course. And in pollster Frank Luntz’s focus group, the Republican vice presidential nominee handily won.
Final focus group vote tonight after the #VPDebate: 12-2 in favor of JD Vance pic.twitter.com/LgahO2za7C
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 2, 2024
However, the focus group is now starting to turn against the moderators. #VPDebate
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 2, 2024
We need more Midwestern presidential candidates. 💯 https://t.co/0J7UIfxLR0
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 2, 2024
My focus group’s early consensus:
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 2, 2024
The VP candidates are better than their running mates. #VPDebate
• “They’re debating policy – did Christmas come early? This makes me so happy!”
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 2, 2024
• “I've learned more in the first 15 minutes than the entire campaign so far.”
– #VPDebate focus group participants
Other focus groups came to similar conclusions, with The Washington Post's swing state focus group even giving Vance higher marks than Walz on climate change.
WaPo asked swing state voter focus group who won the VP debate
— Nuance Bro (@NuanceBro) October 2, 2024
They overwhelmingly said Vance pic.twitter.com/KsL4FfHNVN
