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Home / World

Race for the White House: Five questions as Pence and Harris prepare for faceoff

By Steve Peoples analysis
Other·
6 Oct, 2020 08:39 PM5 mins to read

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Joe Biden vows to put a plan in place for America to tackle the coronavirus and save lives. Video / ABC News politics

United States Vice-President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris meet on the debate stage for the first and only time tomorrow in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Here are some key questions heading into the debate:

HOW MUCH DOES THIS DEBATE MATTER?

Vice-presidential debates rarely move the needle in significant ways during a presidential election. But with President Donald Trump recovering from the coronavirus and his Democratic challenger, former Vice-President Joe Biden, trying to become the oldest president in US history, the stakes are higher this time.

While it's uncomfortable to say out loud, there is a possibility that Pence or Harris might be required to step into the presidency before the end of the next term. That injects greater scrutiny into the prime-time affair for both candidates.

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Pence and Harris have long been overshadowed by their bosses. This is their time to shine.

Mike Pence v Kamala Harris: Trump's health raises stakes of vice-presidential debate https://t.co/3bE13Pb0lR

— The Guardian (@guardian) October 6, 2020

WILL IT BE SAFE?

Less than two weeks ago, an unmasked Pence attended the now infamous White House Rose Garden ceremony that is widely suspected to be the "superspreader" event that infected at least eight attendees, including Trump himself.

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A case could be made that Pence should be in quarantine, not at a University of Utah debate hall.

Acknowledging the health concerns, organisers agreed to separate the candidates, who will not be required to wear masks, with a plexiglass shield.

The candidates and the moderator will all be seated exactly 3.7m away from one another. No handshakes or physical greetings are allowed.

Organisers report that a "small number" of ticketed guests will be inside the hall. Anyone who refuses to wear a mask besides the candidates and moderator will be removed.

We usually focus on political risks, but there are legitimate physical risks at play.

A huge week for Mike Pence, who now carries the re-election campaign with Trump sidelined.

The VP debates Kamala Harris on Wed and is back on the trail Thur, knowing if the president’s health deteriorates he will step in to lead. https://t.co/NwVbRpnfDW

— Ben Riley-Smith (@benrileysmith) October 3, 2020

HOW WILL PENCE DEFEND THE WHITE HOUSE'S HANDLING OF THE PANDEMIC?

Pence, the chairman of the President's coronavirus task force, has some tough questions to answer.

More than 210,000 Americans are dead. The White House is a hot zone.

And still, the Trump Administration does not have a comprehensive national strategy to contain the pandemic.

It's fair to assume that the White House's standard talking point about blocking travel from China early on won't get Pence out of trouble on this one.

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Kamala Harris' goal in the vice presidential debate: Focus on Donald Trump, not Mike Pence https://t.co/rToKfou0Ea pic.twitter.com/vF8ksqc7yb

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) October 6, 2020

The truth is, under Trump and Pence's watch, more people have died from the virus in America than in any other country.

Pence will also be forced to answer for Trump's repeated attempts to downplay the threat of the virus and to discourage basic safety precautions like mask usage — a pattern that continued even after the President was released from the hospital yesterday.

Pence is far more polished than Trump in some ways, having spent the last 20 years in elected office. He will need every bit of that experience to talk himself out of this one.

NEW: Joe Biden has again tested negative for COVID-19, according to his campaign. https://t.co/KDEdhPTK14

— Axios (@axios) October 6, 2020

HARRIS IS MAKING HISTORY. WILL IT ENERGIZE DEMOCRATS?

It's no secret that Biden has struggled to excite some Democrats behind his candidacy.

Harris could help on that front as she reminds America that she could make history as the first black woman to serve as vice-president.

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Her appearance on the debate stage alone is historic.

Look for Harris to have a moment, likely scripted, to help highlight her unique place in history.

She did so effectively in the Democratic primary debates when she pointed to her personal experience with school busing — an experience she used, of course, to attack Biden.

Democrats are still working aggressively to encourage low-propensity voters, especially black and younger people, to show up for Biden.

Harris has perhaps her biggest and best opportunity to help address those concerns tomorrow.

Trump, Biden campaigns at odds over pandemic safety precaution as Pence objects to plexiglass divider on his side of debate stage https://t.co/kQ0CWUrolw

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 6, 2020

WILL EITHER CANDIDATE TAKE THE GLOVES OFF?

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The first rule for any running mate is to do no harm to the ticket. That typically puts a lot of pressure on vice-presidential candidates to stick to cautious talking points.

But these are not typical times.

Pence has shown over the last four years that he has little interest in doing anything other than praising the President.

Harris, a former prosecutor, has demonstrated an ability and willingness to bring the fire when she wants to.

The California senator is uniquely positioned to attack Pence on the Trump Administration's handling of racial divisions, women's issues, the coronavirus and the president's Supreme Court nominees.

Given how muted she's been on the campaign trail since joining the ticket, the question is how aggressive Biden's team will allow her to be.

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- AP

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