Senator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence squared off in Utah on Wednesday night in the first and only Vice Presidential Debate of 2020. The debate was moderated by USA Today Washington Bureau Chief, Susan Page. Members of the audience wore masks, and the candidates sat 12 feet apart behind plexiglass.
The V.P. Debate was much more civilized than that of the presidential candidates.
Questions ranged from the coronavirus, climate change, U.S. China relations, Roe vs Wade, and race relations.
“The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any Presidential administration in the history of our country…
210,000 people dead, over 7 million contracting the virus, 1and 5 businesses closed, over 30 million people who in last several months had to file for unemployment…,” said Senator Harris in relation to the Coronavirus. “On January 28, the V.P. and President were informed that it is lethal, airborne… they knew what was happening and they didn’t tell you…. Today they still don’t have a plan.”
Pence responded, “Our nation has gone through a very challenging time…. From the very first day, President Donald Trump put the health of citizens first.”
“This was a much more civil and substantive debate,” said one viewer. “But it is incredibly frustrating and cowardly to see elected officials consistently refuse to answer direct questions.”
Harris left the question of if elected, whether the Biden Harris administration would “pack” the supreme court. Pence left many questions unanswered, but the most glaring were about the high U.S. death rate from COVID, and whether or not his campaign would commit to a peaceful transfer of power.
As of press time, the second Presidential Debate is scheduled to take place in Miami on October 15. The Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden says that Trump should not attend if he is still testing positive for the virus.
“I think if he still has COVID, we shouldn’t have a debate,” he said. “We’re going to have to follow very strict guidelines. Too many people have been infected. It’s a very serious problem.”
The Trump campaign insists that the President will be there and healthy. The third and final debate will take place at Belmont University on October 22.
