In a night that brought civility and substance back to national-level political debates, many Americans believe Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) narrowly outperformed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) during Tuesday’s vice presidential debate. According to a CBS News poll, 42 percent of viewers saw Vance, a Yale-trained lawyer and former President Trump’s running mate, as the debate winner. Walz, the running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris, was close behind, with 41 percent of the audience giving him the edge. Seventeen percent of viewers declared it a tie.

The debate, hosted by CBS News at its headquarters in New York City, was notable for its tone. It was among the most civil debates in recent memory, with no name-calling or personal attacks. Both candidates expressed emotion while discussing their children and even found common ground on some topics.

A substantial 88 percent of debate watchers said the encounter was generally positive, according to the CBS poll, with only 12 percent viewing it negatively. The event was moderated by CBS anchors Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell.

Other polls conducted after the debate largely mirrored the CBS findings. CNN’s post-debate survey showed that Vance narrowly outperformed Walz, with just over 50 percent of respondents choosing Vance as the winner. This is a notable shift, as pre-debate surveys had given Walz a slight lead, with 54 percent of respondents preferring him over Vance.

However, while Vance’s performance improved his standing among viewers, it did little to change his overall favorability. CNN’s survey found that only 41 percent of viewers held a favorable opinion of him post-debate, while 44 percent viewed him unfavorably. On the other hand, Walz’s favorability saw a significant boost, rising to 59 percent from 46 percent. The post-debate poll indicated that Walz’s support increased especially among women.

Throughout the debate, Walz emphasized his and Harris’s commitment to reproductive rights, while Vance tried to appeal to a more moderate stance on the issue. The debate also improved public perception of both candidates’ qualifications for the vice presidency. CBS polling revealed that 65 percent of viewers now see Walz as qualified to step into the presidency if needed, while 58 percent said the same of Vance, marking an improvement for both candidates.

A Politico snap poll conducted shortly after the debate reflected the divide along party lines. While 72 percent of Democrats said Walz won, 71 percent of Republicans thought Vance emerged victorious. Among independents, 34 percent favored Walz, while 25 percent gave the edge to Vance. Notably, 44 percent of independents believed Walz would make a better vice president, compared to 36 percent who chose Vance.

The CBS/YouGov poll was conducted on October 1 with a margin of error of 2.7 percentage points. The CNN/SSRS poll surveyed 574 viewers and had a margin of error of 5.3 percentage points, while Politico’s poll of 902 participants had a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points.

Despite the tight race, the debate set a refreshing tone of respect and constructive dialogue, offering voters a deeper understanding of both candidates’ visions for the country.