In the hours leading up to Tuesday’s CBS News Vice Presidential Debate at the broadcaster’s Manhattan studios, a stream of campaign representatives filled the “spin room.” This space was packed with reporters and had two rows of temporary TV studios from various news organizations.

Among the figures advocating for Senator JD Vance from Ohio—the Republican vice presidential candidate who is paired with former President Donald Trump—were Congresswoman Elise Stefanik from New York, Senator Katie Britt from Alabama, Rep. Byron Donalds from Florida, and Jason Miller, a former advisor to Trump. Donald Trump Jr. made an appearance after the debate concluded.

Current and former politicians, alongside influential party members and their teams, aimed to support their candidates and promote their chances ahead of what is expected to be the final debate before the upcoming Election Day.

Jaime Harrison, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, was seen promoting Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate and running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris. Former Senator Claire McCaskill from Missouri, Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona, and J.B. Pritzker from Illinois were also present to advocate for Walz.

Earlier in the day, there were reports suggesting that Walz felt anxious about facing Vance in the debate.

When asked whether Walz, a former school teacher and coach, was at a disadvantage against Vance, a Yale Law School graduate, McCaskill expressed confidence. She said, “Ivy League lawyers tend to talk down to ordinary people,” commenting that Walz communicates like “your next-door neighbor.”

In response to a question regarding Vance’s appeal, Britt claimed that people would “fall in love with JD,” hinting at his strategy to connect on a personal level. The overall atmosphere of the debate proved to be friendly.

Post-debate, Harrison critiqued Vance’s performance, stating he didn’t find it “authentic.”

Harrison remarked, “Graduating from Yale implies you are a skilled debater, but an education cannot teach authenticity or how to be sincere. There was nothing genuine, empathetic, or real about JD Vance during that debate.”

In contrast, Trump Jr. had a different interpretation.

“Watching Tim listening to JD, I think he’s leaning towards our side. He was nodding along,” Trump Jr. stated after the debate. He further praised JD’s performance, calling it “an absolute master class.”

Earlier that night, Miller provided his insights on the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of immigration, stating: “Kamala Harris has made every community feel like it is a border community.”

Stefanik, while discussing Vance’s focus on economic issues, went on to rename the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act as the Inflation Expansion Act.

“The economy is a primary concern with inflation and the crisis it has caused, particularly due to Kamala Harris’s deciding vote on the Inflation Expansion Act, which is devastating for families,” she stated.

Harrison highlighted that Harris and Walz aim to establish an “opportunity economy that benefits everyone.” He contrasted this with the previous Trump administration, asserting that JD Vance agrees.

Recently, some text messages were revealed showing that he criticized Trump and the economic measures he had taken while in office.

One spontaneous exchange in the spin room overshadowed all the rehearsed statements:

As Harrison exited one of the television studios after an interview, he ran into Donalds.

“How are you, man?” Harrison greeted.

“I’m good,” replied Donalds. “How about you?”

Were they acquaintances?

“I know of him,” Harrison commented. “As a Black man, I appreciate him and the value he contributes.”

Just moments earlier, he was talking to his two sons back in South Carolina about the dinner they were enjoying, focusing on parmesan cheese.

“Regardless of where I am, I connect with my kids every night, either through FaceTime or a phone call,” he shared. “It’s truly a priority for me as a Dad.”