CBS News Special Report S2024E07 - Post-debate analysis

In CBS News' post-debate coverage and analysis, anchored by John Dickerson and Cecilia Vega, Major Garrett described it as "the Warren G. Harding memorial vice presidential debate. In 1921, Warren G. Harding promised the country a return to normalcy. That's what this debate was. It was substantive, far more substantive on the facts and policies than the leading candidates, the presidential nominees have been to date. It was in a way a kind of embrace of bipartisanship on tough issues…"

Anthony Salvanto with an instant polling reaction found that watchers were evenly split on whether Tim Walz or JD Vance won the debate — though 88% agreed that the overall tone of the debate was positive. 

CBS News contributor Ed Gordon on civility: "The civility that we saw tonight may be a mistake by Democrats. He added that Gov. Tim Walz "missed an opportunity" to press Sen. JD Vance on "the racial insensitivity" of claims about immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.

National correspondent Jericka Duncan hosted a voter panel in Michigan following the debate. Four said that Sen. JD Vance won the debate. Vance "was a smoother talker," said one voter who supports Kamala Harris, though he believes Gov. Tim Walz "did answer more of the questions with data points and with evidence." Hear what these voters had to say 

Chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes' reaction: "If you took a shot every time you heard the words 'I agree' tonight, you'd be under the table right now."