US election 2020: Analysis on the vice-presidential debate

Gulf News

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00:00Hello, and welcome to the quick analysis of the US vice presidential debate between Mike

00:10Pence and Kamala Harris.

00:12To those of us who followed the debate last week between President Donald Trump and Joe

00:18Biden, today's debate was a study in contrast to the one held last week.

00:24There were no interruptions or name calling, no snide remarks or sneering in Salt Lake

00:30City.

00:31In its place was a more pleasant debate that was set firmly in place by the moderator,

00:36Susan Page.

00:37Both candidates stuck to their rehearsed points and were not challenged by the moderator when

00:43they did not give a direct answer.

00:46Vice President Mike Pence came across as an expert on how to evade questions, soft spoken

00:53and polite, Pence repeatedly spoke on issues other than the question put to him.

00:59Here's an example.

01:00When the candidates were asked what they felt about the age and health of the presidential

01:05candidates, Pence spoke about the coronavirus vaccine and Harris of her mother and of what

01:10she did as the Attorney General of California.

01:13It was a perfect example of how to answer a question in a debate when it is uncomfortable.

01:20Don't answer it at all.

01:22In terms of expression and curtness, Harris came across as the stronger candidate compared

01:28to the gentle Pence.

01:29She wasted no time in attacking Trump's record on COVID-19 with facts and figures right at

01:36the beginning of the debate.

01:38She said, the American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential

01:43administration in the history of our country.

01:46And frankly, this administration has forfeited its right to re-election based on this.

01:52The reply from Pence was studied and on expected lines.

01:56I want the American people to know from the very first day President Donald Trump has

02:02put the health of America first, Pence said, pointing to his ban on travel from China on

02:09January 31st, a month after cases first emerged in Wuhan.

02:14While the two candidates were largely cordial, there was friction over police and racial

02:20issues.

02:21Pence called presumptions of systemic racism among police, a great insult to the men and

02:27women who serve in law enforcement.

02:30Harris, a former prosecutor, responded sharply.

02:33I will not sit here and be lectured by the vice president about what it means to enforce

02:39the laws of this country, Harris said.

02:42She noted Trump's reluctance to directly condemn white supremacy in last week's debate against

02:49Biden.

02:50Sometimes during the debate, when Pence interjected while Harris was speaking, she was pointed

02:56in her reply, Mr. Pence, I am speaking, I am speaking.

03:01Now after defending the administration's response to the virus, Pence put Harris on the defensive

03:07with attacks on Biden's tax and environment plans and the accusation that Biden would

03:14try to add justices to the Supreme Court.

03:17Pence said, from day one, Joe Biden is going to raise your taxes.

03:22Harris said, that's not true.

03:24Now in contrast to Trump's attacks on Biden and his family, Pence demonstrated calm and

03:30stability and congratulated Harris on the historic nature of her candidacy.

03:35The debate could have been livelier had the moderator pursued questions when they were

03:41not answered.

03:42With two minutes each per contestant for nine topics, including climate change, economy,

03:49China and racial justice.

03:51At times it seemed like a race against the clock and more of a question and answer session.

03:58In fact, the debate was an overcorrection of what we saw last week.

04:03Having said that, there were times when the candidates did come out strongly.

04:08As I said earlier, one was when Harris said, I will not sit here and be lectured by the

04:13vice president on what it means to enforce the laws of our country.

04:17And Pence said, you are entitled to your own opinions, but you are not entitled to your

04:23own facts.

04:24So who won the debate?

04:26In many parts, it was Kamala Harris who came out as the stronger candidate against the

04:31softer gentle Pence.

04:33The debate between Pence and Harris is unlikely to change the presidential race, but viewers

04:40got a good idea of how strong the vice presidential candidates are.

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