TEXAS, USA — In a heated debate Tuesday night, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump presented starkly different views on a range of topics.
West Texas residents also voiced their opinions on the political climate offering their own perspectives.
Samuel Cranfill, of Odessa, said, "I think it was a pretty good debate for both of them. I don't know if they moved the needle. Some media people seem to think it didn’t, which is okay. They're still neck and neck, and that's all that matters."
Locally, some of the debate topics, like women's rights, struck a chord with many.
"I care a lot about women's rights," said Gema Rodriguez of Odessa. "I know Texas is very anti-abortion, but I have my views. I wouldn’t get an abortion myself, but every woman should make her own choice for health reasons."
One resident from Midland, Lynda Jackson, also expressed her opinion on the recent conflicts involving Roe v. Wade stating, "I don't think the government or anyone else has a right to tell women what they can do with their bodies."
Hannah Potter, an Odessan spoke in favor of Roe v. Wade being overturned.
"I think it's great that Roe versus Wade [was] overturned," Potter said. "Like [Trump] said, they've been trying to do that for years, it gives power back to the states. I found it funny that Kamala Harris, one of her arguments was that [women] can't afford groceries. A women can't afford her rent, can't afford her life basically, and we're asking her to get on a plane and go to another state to get an abortion."
Potter's response to Harris was to ask what would be the point of having a legal abortion if you can't afford it?
The conversations NewsWest 9 had with the community also touched on immigration, with some reacting to claims made by Donald Trump about immigrants.
Alaneisha Duke, of Midland, said her boss told her about Trump saying immigrants were eating animals. She responded with, "I'm sorry what? I have two dogs at home, so I was like please don't eat them."
Even after Trump's accusations, Duke did agree with a closed border.
"We have enough going on within our borders," Duke said. "We don't need to be letting other people in who don't have any, any source of like identification, any source of their passports, you know, licenses anything like that. It's hard enough for the American people in general to even get some of the that they're being granted."
Oil and gas, vital to the Permian Basin's economy, also emerged as a concern.
"Drilling is a huge thing here in West Texas," Potter said. "Obviously, petroleum-based economy is a huge priority for us here, so a lot of us lean that way, but as United States citizens, the economy is based off of petroleum and energy sources. We're not ready to stop using oil."
Immigration, a topic with deep roots in West Texas, continues to divide opinion.
Rodriguez made sure to note she came from an immigrant family.
"It's harsh to think we need closed borders, but maybe we should secure them more carefully," Rodriguez said. "I am a parent now and I do care."
Potter brought up an interesting perspective from her time being an ER nurse and a flight nurse.
"I have a broad idea of where priority should lie and when there are open borders, it is a safety problem," Potter said. "In 2020, we locked down the country. You couldn't move around the country freely. Now we're opening the borders and allowing millions of people who we have no idea where they came from, no idea their health status, we have no idea."
Throughout all conversations, one topic that was addressed in some part with every person was the U.S. economy.
Duke recounted being newly married and how hard the economy is and has been in recent years.
"Our economy is very poor at the moment and it makes it very hard for us," Duke said. "To source out for homes or even get a car, it's been very difficult just to find a good balance for us, on top of our working wages and our living wages."
Duke emphasized that the economy should take precedence and taken care of no matter who is in office.
With just 55 days until the Presidential Election, some decisions are still up in the air in Midland and Odessa.
Rodriguez admitted that she used to think voting was not that important, but she is starting to see differently now.
"This year, I am considering voting," Rodriguez stated. "Especially because things are just getting progressively worse and crazier every election year."
While others remain polarized.
Potter said if your priority is the economy and being able to afford groceries and having a safe and secure environment for your family to grow up in, "you should vote for the Republican nominee Donald Trump."
After watching parts of the debate, Duke said her vote was influenced.
"I do plan to vote for Donald Trump," Duke said. "I feel like his goals towards the country and towards reshaping us is very helpful. It would be very beneficial for not only us, but for other countries to see how we are being led."
Jackson voiced a strong opposition: "Trump is a loose cannon, he [is] dangerous. I thought [Kamala] has been the greatest thing for our country. As far as I'm concerned, she's the best choice."
Regardless of their preferred candidate, many emphasized the importance of voting.
Jackson proudly stated, "I am a registered voter. People died for our right to vote, so I’m asking everyone: Please vote. I’m not telling you who to vote for, but make it count."