Newsmax headed into its coverage of the vice presidential debate with a Sept. 27 wire article on how the moderators won’t fact-check the candidates. Then, a Sept. 29 article by Mark Swanson hyped a claim that “Democrat [sic] Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz is battling nerves heading into the upcoming debate against Republican JD Vance.” An article the same day by Sandy Fitzgerald touted a right-wing congressman claim that Vance will “do great because he’s got the issues on his side,” and a Sept. 30 article by Solange Reyner cheered that “Donald Trump says he will be doing a ‘personal play-by-play'” of the debate. Oddly, there was also some pre-emptive spin by Mike Huckabee insisting that while the debate “‘ought to be fun,’ it probably won’t move the needle much in terms of the election.”
The day of the debate, Newsmax published wire articles previewing the debate. After the debate, Newsmax ran a couple of wire articles summarizing it. Then came the biased anti-Walz and pro-Vance Newsmax-bylined stuff, with more balanced wire articles mixed in:
- Walz, Vance Clash on Middle East at Outset of Debate (wire article)
- Walz: Iran Closer to Nuclear Weapon, Thanks to Trump
- Walz Answers on Embellishments: I’m a ‘Knucklehead’
- CBS Cuts JD Vance’s Mic as He Calls Out Moderator for Debating Him
- Walz on Abortion: Women’s Rights Can’t Be Based on Geography
- Vance, Debate Moderator Spar on Immigration
- Walz, Vance Go After Each Other’s Running Mates (wire article)
After that an opt-in reader poll on the debate winner and an article by Kate McManus touting the debate’s ratings, the usual gang of talking heads pushed Republican talking points about the debate:
- Fmr Sen. Rick Santorum to Newsmax: Vance a ‘Tour de Force’ in Debate With Walz
- Sen. Marshall to Newsmax: Vance ‘Mopped the Floor’ With Walz, But Civility Was Clear
- Karoline Leavitt to Newsmax: Vance Exceeded Expectations in Debate
- Fmr Va. Gov. James Gilmore to Newsmax: Debates Are ‘Setup’ Against GOP
- Jason Miller to Newsmax: Vance Called His Shot on Fake-Checks
- RNC’s Whatley to Newsmax: Walz ‘Not Ready for Prime Time’
- Marsha Blackburn to Newsmax: Vance Proved the Better ‘Number Two’ in Debate
John Gizzi gushed in an Oct. 2 article:
No sooner had J.D. Vance and Tim Walz shaken hands after concluding the lone vice presidential debate of the year Tuesday night than the verdict from Newsmax’s panel of political scientists came in and was unanimous: the night belonged to Ohio’s Republican Sen. Vance.
Given that vice presidential debates rarely have a major impact on the presidential contest, it is unclear whether Vance’s performance will boost the polling performance of the Republican ticket led by running mate Donald Trump.
But clearly the debate enhanced Vance’s standing as a political figure.
Then it was Newsmax columnists’ duty to declare Vance the winner. Fred Fleitz huffed in his Oct. 2 column:
Even though almost all post-debate assessments and polls showed Vance was by far the stronger debater and won the evening, CBS’s laughable self-conducted poll said it was a tie.
Like the last presidential debate, this was another three-against-one debate for a Republican candidate, with the debate moderators slanting their questions and follow-ups heavily in favor of the Democrat.
Although there was not supposed to be “fact checking” by the moderators, they did so, against Vance.
When Vance challenged them, they cut off his microphone.
[…]Despite CBS’s efforts to rig the vice-presidential debate against JD Vance to ensure that he lost, Vance’s superior debating skills and his powerful message made him unbeatable.
Judd Dunning gushed in an Oct. 4 column:
Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, powerfully shined in his debate against Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn.
Senator Vance’s calm, collected, and rational performance resonated with voters seeking substantive conservatism.
Vance’s demeanor contrasted sharply with Gov. Walz, who appeared uncomfortable, fumbling through his notes, openly criticizing himself when pinned down, revealing a deep lack of confidence on the national stage.
[…]Vance’s victory was for the GOP itself, reminding voters that principles of hard work, personal responsibility, and law and order should guide America. The November election is fast approaching, and the choice has never been clearer.
The tide is turning toward the rational right.
Larry Bell, meanwhile, started off by surprisingly criticizing both sides in his Oct. 4 column:
The two debates, one between presidential contenders U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, the other with vice president hopeful Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., engaging Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, provided blizzards of talking point fodder and scads of style point commentary that shed little light upon the single most important voting consideration of all.
With myriad national issues and challenges, are you better off now than you were four years ago?
The rest of his column, however, was filled with pro-Trump talking points.