Trump Infection Expands Vice Presidential TV Debate Controversy... Pence's Burden Grows Heavier

Harris Faces Expected Intense Criticism Over Pandemic Response Failure
Pence's Potential for Comeback Noted Based on Government Experience

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Interest in the vice presidential candidate TV debate is growing following U.S. President Donald Trump's positive diagnosis for COVID-19. The second presidential candidate TV debate is scheduled for the 15th, but President Trump has not yet fully recovered, making his participation uncertain. In U.S. political circles, it is expected that Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential candidate and former prosecutor, will relentlessly attack President Trump’s COVID-19 infection and failure in pandemic control. However, Mike Pence, the vice president with extensive government experience and a stable debate style, is also highly likely to turn the situation around.

On the 5th (local time), foreign media including CNN reported that the upcoming U.S. presidential vice presidential candidate TV debate scheduled for the 7th in Salt Lake City, Utah, may be the last TV debate of this election. CNN reported that according to guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), President Trump must remain in isolation for at least 10 days after discharge and must show no fever symptoms during the isolation period to be released. Analysts say it would be unreasonable to force the TV debate on the 15th.

It is anticipated that COVID-19 issues will be a major focus in this vice presidential TV debate. The Associated Press (AP) predicted that the main topic of the debate will be President Trump’s repeated violations of public health guidelines, holding large rallies without wearing masks, and the fact that he himself became infected as a result. The U.S. political media outlet Politico also reported that Senator Harris will relentlessly attack the Republican Party for neglecting pandemic control guidelines.

The tension between both sides is sharp even before the TV debate. The Democratic presidential campaign protested that it is too risky for Senator Harris to proceed with the debate against Vice President Pence as usual, given that not only President Trump but also White House spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany and other close aides have been infected with COVID-19. They demanded that the distance between the two candidates’ seats be widened and a partition be installed in between. The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), which organizes the debate, accepted this and decided to double the distance between the two candidates from 6 feet (about 1.8 meters) to 12 feet and to install a transparent acrylic glass partition between them, following CDC guidelines. In response to this decision, Katie Miller, Vice President Pence’s spokesperson, issued a statement accusing Senator Harris of being a coward, saying, “If Senator Harris wants to build a fortress around herself, then so be it.”

The 90-minute TV debate is expected to favor Senator Harris, who is anticipated to take an offensive stance on the surface. However, based on government experience and other factors, Vice President Pence also has a chance to turn the tables. The New York Times (NYT) reported, “Voters will likely focus on whether the vice presidential candidates are prepared to suddenly assume the presidency in the event of the incapacitation of the presidential candidates, considering both candidates are elderly,” adding, “Vice President Pence’s strengths may be highlighted more.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.