MANKATO — As Democrats and Republicans both drew full houses at their respective vice presidential debate watch parties Tuesday night, the evening was a chance for some voters, like Cheryl Clendenin, to learn what others felt about the candidates.
“I thought it would be interesting to come down and see what momentum there is and whether there’s kind of a common thread in what people are thinking and feeling,” she said.
Clendenin, of Mankato, was at the Republican watch party at the Kato Ballroom with her son Tuesday.
Clendenin said while she typically votes Republican, when it comes down to the election, she likes to look at both candidates and see where they fall on issues important to her.
“I had an idea of who I want to vote for, but I want to hear both perspectives and decide, kind of confirm my thought,” she said.
JD Vance and Tim Walz began the night discussing issues such as immigration and climate change.
Over at the Loose Moose Saloon, the Democrats’ watch party drew voters with personal connections to the former Mankato teacher.
Tom and Brenda Allen, of North Mankato, said their kids had Walz as a teacher.
“Yeah, it is so exciting that he’s the candidate for vice president,” Brenda said.
After the debate began, Tom said Walz’s performance was going well.
“I like the fact that he’s going right after the issues. I think JD Vance is kind of talking around the issues,” Tom said during the debate.
Marcia Stapleton, who lives on Lake Washington, said before the debate that she’d hoped Walz would talk about issues that are important to average people.
She followed up later.
“I think the issues are good. I think that JD Vance is trying to just put everything on Kamala Harris that she really had almost nothing to do with. Donald Trump is the one that started this border crisis,” she said.
Over at the Kato Ballroom, Clendenin approved of JD Vance’s debate performance and said he had a good understanding of the issues.
“I think Gov. Walz sometimes is not staying on track. He’s getting a little bit off subject. He might be struggling with the issues a little. He says how Minnesota feels, but I’m not sure he understands how outside of maybe the Cities feel as much as he’s representing,” she said.
Blue Earth County Republican Board Chair Yvonne Simon said she found it interesting that both candidates worked to define their running mates.
“I find that both have so far been level-headed. I think that JD Vance is perhaps a little bit more calm, cool and collected. I’m seeing a little bit more emotional reaction from Walz,” she said.
“Having him being our governor, I am not really favorable of him for what he’s done to Minnesota, so I approach it at probably a different viewpoint than some, but overall, I think the debate is going well. The moderators for the most part are leaving the candidates alone so they can express their viewpoints.”