Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance will meet in New York City tonight during the CBS News Vice Presidential Debate.

CBS moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan had an important choice to make ahead of Tuesday’s vice-presidential debate: would they directly fact check the candidates’statements live in the moment?

While the Walz-Vance debate, which was noted for being a relatively civil affair, was viewed by almost 25 percent less people than its predecessor, the Harris-Pence debate was also the second-most watched VP debate since Nielsen began keeping records.

JD Vance is focused on next month’s election. But the vice-presidential debate went a long way toward building his brand for a potential 2028 run.

According to an average of late-Tuesday polls from CNN/SSRS, YouGov/CBS News, Focaldata/Politico and J.L. Partners/DailyMail.com, 48 percent of debate watchers thought that Vance was the winner or turned in the best performance, while 46 percent thought that Walz was the winner or did the best.

In the frenzy of deciding what to think after a debate that basic question often gets lost. Debates generate a distinct news cycle as mainstream media plan for, cover, and finally discuss and fact-check the event.

However, two flash polls showed the Republican challenger Vance winning by a slim margin in the vice-presidential debate.

In one of the most notable exchanges of the vice presidential debate, JD Vance refused to say Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and downplayed the events of Jan. 6.

Immigration is a central issue in this election, and polls have shown a majority of voters want to see immigration levels reduced.

It was an opportunity for Vance, the Republican candidate, to sell the "Make America Great Again" message, following a Sept. 10 presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump which was widely seen as a resounding victory for the V ice President.