Democrats voice concern over bumbling Tim Walz in low-key VP debate with more polished JD Vance: 'Why should we vote for you?'

Democratic pundits were left scratching their heads in disbelief Tuesday night after the at time stumbling performance of Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, MInnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Walz started off shaky, often mixing up his words and appeared anxious and unable to answer when pressed on his own misstatements about his past and experience.

'I was missing the magic and the organic spontaneity of Tim Walz,' said former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki.

Symone Sanders Townsend, an MSNBC host and former campaign manager for Bernie sanders tweeted: 'My thoughts about this debate can all be summed up with: Gov. Walz is not prosecuting the case rather its a nicefest. If you agree with Vance on so much then why should we vote for you?'

“Walz has missed a lot of opportunities to go on the attack and point out Vance’s lies and hypocrisy. The policy wonking is not really cutting it,” said Asha Rangappa, a frequent CNN legal analyst and former special agent with the FBI in New York.

Donald Trump's running mate J.D. Vance outperformed his Democratic rival Tim Walz in their one and only debate of the 2024 race, according to DailyMail.com's exclusive snap poll.

The high-stakes showdown on CBS just 35 days before the general election was a chance for the vice presidential picks to prove their credentials to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

The candidates tangled over abortion, immigration, gun violence and the Middle East and took plenty of opportunities to present each other as extreme or 'weird'.

They also bigged up their bosses, Trump and Kamala Harris, in the midst of the final campaign sprint in what is shaping up to be one of the closest races in decades.

But it was Vance who left the best impression with viewers, after a strong start against his nervy opponent and despite dodging a question on if Trump lost the 2020 election.

According to the DailyMail.com/J.L Partners poll of 801 likely voters, 50 percent said Vance won the debate compared to just 43 percent who said Walz was the victor.

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter:

Kamala Harris' running mate Tim Walz is heading out on a post-debate campaigning, fundraising and media blitz that will take him to at least six states.

Today, the Democratic vice presidential nominee will head to Pennsylvania for a bus tour with stops in central Pennsylvania including Harrisburg, Reading and York where he will hold a rally with Senator John Fetterman. During the swing, he’ll meet with labor leaders, rural voters and Latino community members.

On Saturday, Walz will head to Ohio for fundraising before heading west with stops in California and Washington. He will then head through the Sunbelt with stops in Nevada and Arizona.

At the same time, the Minnesota governor will be upping his appearances with the media including making his late night TV debut and sitting down for two national tv interviews. He will also record several digital appearances including joining a top pop culture podcast.

In a debate where he botched some phrases and said he is sometimes a 'knucklehead,' Tim Walz asked a pointed question to J.D. Vance about whether Donald Trump lost the 2020 election.

The response he got from Trump's running mate is one that Democrats believe will bolster their case that Trump is a threat to democracy and Vance would help him overturn the will of the voters.

'Did he lose the 2020 election?' Walz asked Vance after the debate moderators set up a long question for the Ohio senator that included pointing out having 62 election claims by Trump and his allies tossed out of court.

'Tim, I'm focused on the future,' Vance said. Then he tried to change the subject. 'Did Kamala Harris censor Americans from speaking their mind in the wake of the 2020 covid situation,' Vance responded.

The high-stakes showdown between GOP Sen. J.D. Vance and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz comes with just 35 days left until the election and with polls showing it could be one of the closest races in decades.

However, some on X getting a first look at Vance seemed entranced by the Ohio Senator's eyes.

Even Democrats seemed taken with Vance, one writing: 'I don't know much about Vance, but I'm entranced by his icy blue eyes,' before clarifying she wasn't voting for him.

Another added: 'Definitely having a girly moment….but JD Vance has such pretty eyes!!'

Judi James told DailyMail.com that the debate could be encapsulated at the end when Vance and Walz attempted to shake hands with a 'very well-mannered battle for power and status.'

She said that Vance walked over to Walz and did a 'drop-dig hand gesture to register a hearty strength.'

Vance got the upper hand by patting Walz's arm before Walz did the same in return, in an attempt to laugh it off.

James echoed what many on social media saw as a refreshing geniality to the debate, citing the moment where Vance had a knowing laugh at Walz admitting he can 'miss-speak' like Trump.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was posting Wednesday morning about one of his strongest moments of the debate, when he confronted J.D. Vance

He was referencing the confrontation he asked Vance point-blank about running mate Donald Trump: ‘Did he lose the 2020 election?' Walz said.

'Tim, I'm focused on the future,' Vance said, changing the subject to censorship on social media. Walz called it a ‘'damning non-answer’ on the debate stage.

‘Last night, what JD Vance didn’t say said everything,’ Walz posted on X Wednesday morning. Vance has previously said he would have asked states to submit ‘alternate slates of electors’ if he had been vice president January 6. That’s something Trump was demanding as part of his election overturn effort.

Walz’s post came as some of his own flubs, including a confusing answer on his trip to Hong Kong, a stumble on Israel, and accidentally saying he was friends with school shooters were getting parsed by commentators.