MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – Oakland University held a watch party Tuesday for the vice presidential debate.
Students on both sides of the aisle came to watch the candidates perform on the national stage.
“This is a lot better of a debate than the presidential debate where we saw things go off the rails, and I’m talking about both sides,” OU student Muhammed Smidi said.
Smidi is a Donald Trump supporter and said Vance was the debate winner.
“In my opinion, Governor Walz looks scared,” Smidi said. “He looks really combative and I think Senator Vance has really shown himself to be vice presidential. He’s shown himself to be aware of the issues, very knowledgeable, and well prepared for the debate.”
Most of the OU students in attendance were Kamala Harris supporters.
“I support Tim Walz, I think he’s the most coherent,” OU student Maya Kirksey said.
Some Walz supporters, including Kirksey, were disappointed in his response to the night’s first question regarding the conflict in the Middle East.
“I feel like both candidates kind of ignored the really important thing that’s going on that is people are dying that is a genocide, and I feel like that was kind of ignored,” Kirksey said.
MSNBC broadcasted live interviews with students at the OU watch party.
NBC News Political and National Correspondent Jacob Soboroff said data indicates the youth vote in Oakland County will play a big role in the 2024 election.
“Given that the young voters here voted at a higher rate than any other cohort in the midterm election, it’s not an exaggeration to say that people at Oakland University could be the decisive factor in the 2024 election,” Soboroff said.