Intro

Just three weeks after Kamala Harris and Donald J. Trump engaged in a fiery and often hostile presidential debate, their running mates, Tim Walz and JD Vance, met for their own face-off — and struck a very different chord.

Reid J. Epstein, a politics reporter for The Times, explains why this debate was so different and what it could mean for the race.

Guest: Reid J. Epstein, a politics reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• Read coverage of the debate.
• Analysis: Mr. Vance strained to sell a softer image of Mr. Trump.

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