While both candidates are known for their eccentric media interactions, this debate saw a noticeable shift in tone as they set aside the theatrics and focused on policy. Minnesota governor Walz refrained from calling his Republican counterparts “weird,” and Ohio senator Vance avoided his infamous remarks about “childless cat ladies.” In fact, there was a surprising sense of camaraderie.

Before the debate, the candidates and their wives were even seen laughing together — a stark contrast to the first meeting between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris at the presidential debate in September, where their most compassionate moment was a painfully awkward attempt at a handshake.

CBS News reported that 88% of viewers found the tone of the VP debate generally positive, with only 12% feeling it was negative. Both candidates also made comments about shared values during the debate, with Walz stating toward the end, “there’s a lot of commonality here.”

When Walz spoke of his 17 year-old son witnessing a shooting at a community center, Vance appeared genuinely concerned, responding, “I’m sorry about that, and I hope he’s doing OK. Christ have mercy, that is awful.”

This unexpected cordiality left many Americans perplexed after a series of polarized and undiplomatic encounters. NBC’s comedy show Saturday Night Live took a mocking tone, with Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris watching the debate and asking, “why are they vibing?”, joking about an unlikely bromance between Vance and Walz.

Walz found his footing when it came to abortion rights and Donald Trump’s denial of the 2020 election. He referenced Amanda Zurawski, who was denied an abortion in Texas despite serious pregnancy complications; and a 12 year-old Kentucky girl who miscarried after being raped by her stepfather.

“This is a very simple proposition,” Walz said. “These are women’s decisions. We trust women. We trust doctors.”

Vance took an unexpectedly moderate tone on abortion, suggesting that policies should differ by state and that Republicans needed to better communicate with women on the issue. However, he has since made more extreme statements regarding pro-abortion organization Planned Parenthood, including a commitment to defunding the group under a Trump-Vance administration.

Both candidates experienced highs and lows during the night. Walz initially stumbled, but gained confidence on topics such as abortion and election integrity. Vance maintained a more polished demeanor, but avoided answering key questions. Voters were split on the result; in a CBS News poll, 42% said Vance won, 41% said Walz, and 17% called it a tie.

While the debate may not drastically alter the outcome of the 2024 election, it certainly improved perceptions of both candidates. Polls from CNN/SSRS and YouGov/CBS News showed Vance’s net favorability rating improved from -18 percentage points to just -1 point, while Walz’s favorability jumped from +13 points to +31 points.

With less than a month until election day, and early voting already underway in some states, Americans are making their final decisions on the 2024 race — one that is shaping up to be a closely contested battle.