Key moments from the Vance-Walz vice presidential debate

Two Midwestern vice presidential nominees made their case to voters why they should hold the second most powerful office in the country during a match up that alternated between contentious and civil in New York City a few weeks before Election Day.

Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz faced off against former President Donald Trump's running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance during the CBS News Vice Presidential Debate Tuesday. Likely the final debate in a close presidential race, the event was one of the last opportunities for each to deal a blow to the opposing campaign and introduce themselves to voters. Before the debate, about a quarter of registered voters reported they did not know enough to have an opinion about each candidate, according to an AP-NORC poll.

The poll found both candidates are popular but less well-liked than their running mates within their parties. Of Democrats surveyed, 88% shared a favorable view of Harris and 72% shared a positive opinion of Walz. Of Republicans, 77% shared a favorable view of Trump and 57% shared a positive opinion of Vance.

From immigration to abortion, here is a look at the night's key moments:

More: Debate live updates: What time is vice presidential debate tonight? How to watch online

Shaking hands

Vance and Walz shook hands between their podiums at the start of the debate Tuesday. Vance said "good to meet you" and greeted the moderators. He then asked Walz if he could shake his hand again on camera and Walz agreed.

Harris and Trump shook hands at their matchup Sept. 10, marking a return to tradition after the Republican nominee and President Joe Biden abstained from one in June. A handshake between candidates was the norm for presidential debates before Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton refrained from one during the 2016 election cycle.

Discussing Springfield, Ohio

Vance and Trump have attacked the Biden-Harris administration's record on immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, but took things a step further when they began promoting a rumor about Springfield, Ohio.

Vance doubled down on the false claim about Haitian immigrants eating people’s pets in the town last month. Trump amplified the rumor when he said “they are eating the dogs” during his debate with Harris on Sept. 10.

The town, which Vance represents in the U.S. Senate, has received bomb threats as the Republican ticket continues to spread lies about its residents.

"I believe Sen. Vance wants to solve this but by standing with Donald Trump and not working together to find a solution, it becomes a talking point, and when it becomes a talking point like this, we dehumanize and villainize other human beings," Walz said.

"The people that I'm most worried about in Springfield, Ohio are the American citizens who have had their lives destroyed by Kamala Harris' open border," Vance responded. "It is a disgrace, Tim, and I actually think I agree with you. I think you want to solve this problem, but I don't think that Kamala Harris does."

Moderators cutting mics

Ahead of the debate, CBS News had announced its moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan would not fact check the candidates live. However, the moderators did provide quick facts about climate change and Springfield, Ohio's Haitian immigrant population.

Vance interrupted the moderators when they tried to move on to another subject after discussing the border. He began by saying "The rules were that you guys weren't going to fact check, but since you are fact checking me," before describing a specific immigration process at which point the moderators muted both candidates' microphones, which the network said would remain live during the entire debate.

"Thank you, senator, for describing the legal process," Brennan said. "The audience can't hear you because your mics are cut."

Debating abortion access

Walz and Vance debated abortion access, the issue Walz said is "on everyone's mind." Walz reaffirmed his support for reproductive freedom and pointed out that Trump appointed the Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade which guaranteed the right to an abortion in the U.S. for nearly half a century.

Vance replied by saying he believes Trump would veto a federal abortion ban and promised a pro-IVF platform. He also said their administration would leave the issue to the states, pointing to an Ohio referendum protecting access to abortion.

“My party — we've got to do so much better of a job at earning the American people's trust back on this issue where they, frankly, just don't trust us. And I think that's one of the things that Donald Trump and I are endeavoring to do," Vance said.

In a post to X during the debate, Trump said he would not support a federal abortion ban under any circumstances.

Walz said a basic right to abortion being "determined by geography" leads to preventable negative health outcomes including death, citing Amber Thurman's case.

Disagreeing on how to address climate change

Vance and Walz both gave their sympathies to those affected by the storms and hurricanes currently ravaging parts of the country but disagreed on the best way to address climate change.

Vance said it is “a very important issue” and that people across the country are "justifiably worried about all these crazy weather patterns.” He added that a Trump-Vance administration would address climate change by bringing more manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. which, he said, would help limit carbon emissions.

Walz responded by noting Trump has called climate change a “hoax."

“Climate change is real, reducing our impact is absolutely critical,” Walz said.

Walz calls himself a 'knucklehead' on Tiananmen Square

Walz admitted he misspoke when he previously said he was present in China during the deadly pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in April, 1989.

He first struggled to explain discrepancies over the timing of his past trips to China and then said he tries “to do the best I can, but I've not been perfect, and I’m a knucklehead at times."

Walz has repeated the claim for years, beginning a decade ago during a congressional hearing and as recently as February, but news reports contradict it. He said Tuesday that he was in Hong Kong and China during the democracy protests.

"I can get caught up in the rhetoric,” he said.

Vance refusing to say who won in 2020

When discussing the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, Vance refused to answer who won the 2020 election.

"I'm focused on the future. Did Kamala Harris censor Americans from speaking their mind in the wake of the 2020 Covid situation?" Vance said when Walz asked him directly if his running mate lost in 2020.

"That is a damning non-answer," Walz replied.

Earlier in the conversation, Walz said the candidates need to accept results no matter who is elected and that "democracy is bigger than winning an election."

Vance responded by saying that if Walz is the country's next vice president, he will "have my prayers, he'll have my best wishes, and he'll have my help whenever he wants it."

Reach Rachel Barber at rbarber@usatoday.com and follow her on X @rachelbarber_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JD Vance and Tim Walz VP debate key moments