Frank Luntz Focus Group: 'Kaine Is Interrupting Too Much'
FARMVILLE, Va. (CBSNewYork) -- A focus group conducted by CBS News contributor Frank Luntz overwhelmingly agreed that Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence won the debate against Democratic nominee Tim Kaine.
There are 26 people taking part in the focus group during the vice presidential debate being held at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia.
Luntz said 22 people in the focus group think Pence won, while only four believe Kaine did.
Luntz said Kaine was guilty of cutting off Pence frequently during the debate.
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"Kaine is interrupting too much," Luntz tweeted. "The focus group wants the moderator to lay down the law and shut him up until it's his turn."
Kaine is interrupting way too much.
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 5, 2016
The focus group wants the moderator to lay down the law and shut him up until it's his turn. #VPDebate
The debate was moderated by CBS News' Elaine Quijano.
"Mike Pence is winning because Tim Kaine cannot debate like an adult without interruptions," Luntz tweeted.
Mike Pence is winning because Tim Kaine cannot debate like an adult without interruptions. #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/qGEoStPhMt
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 5, 2016
Who's winning the #VPDebate so far?
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 5, 2016
• 16 say Pence
• 10 say Kaine
Why?Pence is talking about what he's for, Kaine only what he's against.
Literally every time Tim Kaine talks: ????#VPDebate
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 5, 2016
"Kaine came off as a jerk. I actually like that guy and I was really disappointed in him," one person in the focus group said.
However, another person said, "I thought Kaine won because Kaine focused on the issues that mattered to the inner city and the people."
"Face the Nation" moderator John Dickerson called Tuesday night's debate a "bickerfest."
Who won tonight's vice-presidential debate?
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 5, 2016
• 22 say Mike Pence
• 4 say Tim Kaine#VPDebate
"Face the Nation" moderator John Dickerson called Tuesday night's debate a "bickerfest."
"Tim Kaine, from the word go, was interrupting and kept interrupting all night. He seemed insistent on getting across the bad news about Donald Trump. He repeatedly tried to get Mike Pence to defend Donald Trump, and often Gov. Pence resisted that temptation," Dickerson said.
He continued, "Unlike Donald Trump in the last debate, Mike Pence was well prepared and he didn't take the bait and in many instances he just let Tim Kaine keep interrupting."
This is the only vice presidential debate of the election season.