It may have been close, but a CNN instant poll handed the debate victory to Mike Pence.
The GOP vice presidential candidate met his Democratic challenger Tim Kaine in their only debate Tuesday, which aired live on multiple networks. The pair hammered at each other for 90 minutes on a wide range of subjects, including Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the abortion debate, the Syrian civil war and the business record of GOP nominee and Pence’s running mate, Donald Trump.
According to CNN, 48 percent of viewers surveyed thought Pence won the debate, compared to 42 percent for Kaine.
“That put the ‘w’ in the Trump camp tonight,” a CNN political commentator said on-air, giving the “win” to the Republican side.
Meanwhile, Trump surrogates seemed eager to exploit Kaine’s frequent interruptions during the debate, turning the tables on critics who had faulted Trump for similar behavior during the first debate with Hillary Clinton last month.
“Sen. Kaine could not stop interrupting Gov. Pence,” Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway complained to CBS News after the debate had ended. “It was really unhinged and unfortunate.”
However, there is not much evidence that vice presidential debates matter much when it comes to elections. Americans tend to focus on the presidential candidates rather than their running mates.
Also, this debate seemed to lack the one indelible line no American could forget, such as when Lloyd Bentsen dressed down Dan Quayle in 1988 with: “You’re no Jack Kennedy.”
Hollywood Hates Trump: 8 Stars Who Got Creative to Dump on the Donald (Photos)
Numerous celebrities have made it clear that they don't support Donald Trump's presidential campaign, but only a few have gone above and beyond to actively campaign against the GOP candidate. Here are 7 getting creative to urge Americans to vote for somebody else.
Getty Images
Katy Perry The "firework" singer lent her voice — and her body — to the Rock the Vote campaign recently, shooting a pro-poll-attendance video for Funny or Die.
Madonna Madonna followed suit and posted a topless photo to her Instagram account and captioned it, "I’m voting naked with Katy Perry!! Vote for Hillary.”
“Star Trek” cast members, producers and writers from all of the franchise’s series and movies have endorsed a new Facebook group called Trek Against Trump.
“Never has there been a presidential candidate who stands in such complete opposition to the ideals of the Star Trek universe as Donald Trump,” the group said in a statement on its Facebook page.
In a recent video, the cast of the NBC sitcom reprise their characters to weigh in on the 2016 presidential election.
Will and Grace, of course, are voting for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, while Karen is committed to her close personal friend, Donald Trump. She helped him pick out Melania and everything.
"She's going to appoint justices to the Supreme Court who will ensure your civil rights," said Grace.
The director launched the "Save The Day" campaign with a star-studded ad that encourages people to go out and vote. In conjunction, he released a star-studded video titled "Important" and although it doesn't mention either candidate by name, it does reference "a man whose signature move is firing someone," as well as describing one of the candidates as "a racist, abusive coward who could permanently damage the fabric of our society."
The Prophets of Rage guitarist teamed with Ryan Harvey and Ani DiFranco to record "Old Man Trump."
The song was originally an unfinished Woody Guthrie protest piece intended for his landlord who happened to be Fred Trump, Donald's father.
Harvey told the Guardian: “You’ve got Donald Trump talking about making America great again ... and so here’s Woody Guthrie, one of the definers of American history, coming out after his death and saying ‘No, it wasn’t a great era and in fact your father was part of the problem.’”
Eminem is known for not holding back when it comes to diss tracks, but this time he let it all out in a track titled "Campaign Speech" -- eight minutes of anti-Trump freestyle, among other topics like Trayvon Martin and Colin Kaepernick.
"A f---ing loose cannon, who's blunt with his hand on the button who doesn't have to answer to no one," raps Eminem. "Great idea."
Getty Images
1 of 9
Eminem is latest star to get imaginative to express opposition to the Republican candidate
Numerous celebrities have made it clear that they don't support Donald Trump's presidential campaign, but only a few have gone above and beyond to actively campaign against the GOP candidate. Here are 7 getting creative to urge Americans to vote for somebody else.