The vice-presidential debate between Democratic nominee Tim Kaine and the GOP’s Mike Pence just concluded. Although the debate likely saw lower viewership than last week’s presidential one, it quickly became a top trending topic on social media.
For example, shortly after closing statements were made by both nominees, #ThatMexicanThing to begin to spread on Twitter.
The story behind the hashtag? It refers to Pence’s response to being confronted with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s controversial comments on Mexican immigrants—a topic that Kaine circled back to multiple times.
.@mike_pence to @timkaine: “You whipped out that Mexican thing again” https://t.co/x6vEzCfzh0
— POLITICO (@politico) October 5, 2016
Throughout the debate, Kaine brought up—again and then again—comments made by Trump. Viewers on Twitter noted the pattern:
Staff: Here’s oppo on Trump
Kaine: Got it
Staff: Make it seem natural when you say it, don’t just drop random oppo whenever
Kaine: Got it
— Shoshana Weissmann (@senatorshoshana) October 5, 2016
1: There were maybe 20 times in that debate where Kaine said Trump did X and Pence flatly denied it, even though we all saw X happen.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) October 5, 2016
What fact-checking questions did viewers raise during the debate? A quick look at Google Trends:
As reactions to the debate continue to roll out throughout the evening, here are what people are saying so far.
On the performance of the candidates:
Kaine won on substance, but like it or not, debates are primarily about style.
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) October 5, 2016
2. The emerging media consensus that Pence won is only true if we ignore the fact that Pence lied his ass off for 90 minutes.
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) October 5, 2016
On who is the more Christian Christian:
Deeply Christian Mike Pence reminds you that Donald Trump, who wants to bring back torture, stands for the right to life.
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 5, 2016
Shorter #VPDebate:
Pence: My ticket is Christian to the core.
Kaine: But you’re running with Trump!
Pence: There you go again, Senator.
— Victoria Brownworth (@VABVOX) October 5, 2016
On relations with Russia:
Mike Pence brazenly contradicted Trump on Russia and Syria https://t.co/0AVfb3k5Gc
— Vox (@voxdotcom) October 5, 2016
A brief dip into Nazi-frog twitter shows them furious at Pence for the Russia stuff.
— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) October 5, 2016
On abortion:
Kaine on abortion: “Why don’t you trust women to make this choice for themselves?” #VPDebate https://t.co/r3xgZ0Fe47 https://t.co/N3kEfe79gH
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 5, 2016
None of this, of course, substitutes for an actual analytic recap of the debate. Check back on Slog for that shortly.