Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin said in a radio interview Wednesday that his colleague Sen. Tim Kaine “came on too hot” during Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate but added that Kaine “hit it out of the park” on substance.
Appearing on “The Steve Cochran Show” on Chicago’s WGN radio, Durbin criticized the Democratic vice presidential nominee’s style in the debate and praised Republican vice presidential nominee, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence for his.
“He came on too hot,” Durbin said. “And I noticed that and Tim is a great fella and a good friend of mine. And I thought Gov. Pence came off as steadier and calmer in the beginning. … When it came to substance, I think Tim hit it out of the park again and again. But you know, it’s up to the public. I don’t think it’s gonna change the presidential race one vote.”
Durbin went on to agree with the host that Pence struggled to defend what he called Donald Trump’s “indefensible” positions, but argued that how Kaine looked away from the camera might have affected the audience’s impression of his sincerity.
“Here was Kaine kind of turned away from the camera, slightly, talking off into space,” Durbin said. “Here was Pence looking at the camera. Those little things make a difference in the impression on the audience as to your sincerity. If you’re not looking, you know, at the camera.”
A CNN/ORC instant poll taken after the debate showed Pence edging out a victory over Kaine, 48% to 42%.