Cutting In Disappears from US TV Debate... Pence and Harris Clash

Vice Presidential Candidate Debate Held
Unlike Presidential Candidate Debate, No Scandalous Scenes
Focus on Demonstrating Governing Capability

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The U.S. vice presidential candidate TV debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris took place on the 7th (local time) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Unlike the presidential candidate TV debates, the two sat behind a transparent barrier and engaged in a single-round debate. Susan Page, Washington bureau chief of USA Today, moderated the debate.

As the setting changed, so did the nature of the debate. The two conducted the discussion seriously, seemingly mindful of criticisms about the reckless interruptions that occurred during the presidential candidate debates. The prosecutorial Harris did not display the relentless attacks on Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate and her rival during the Democratic primary, that she had shown before.

Harris, who had the first opportunity to speak, launched an attack in a relatively moderate tone, saying, "They still have no plan for the war against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19)." In response, Vice President Pence calmly greeted Harris before defending himself. He replied, "President Trump saved thousands of Americans by blocking travel from China."

Neither candidate attempted to interrupt the other’s remarks, and both followed the moderator’s guidance relatively well. Harris showed a relatively relaxed smile, while Vice President Pence maintained a solemn demeanor. Both seemed clearly determined to make changes to redeem the worst evaluations received by the presidential candidate debates.

However, when Vice President Pence briefly interrupted during Harris’s remarks, she gently blocked him, saying, "I am speaking. That is not true."

This debate attracted attention as it could be the last TV debate, given the uncertainty of a second TV debate due to President Donald Trump’s COVID-19 infection. Due to President Trump’s COVID-19 infection, the nature of the vice presidential candidates’ debate shifted to an opportunity to demonstrate their governing capabilities.

Since both President Trump and Biden are elderly at ages 74 and 77 respectively, it is necessary to imprint the image of a vice president capable of stable governance in case of a presidential emergency, which could occur at any time amid the COVID-19 situation.

Vice President Pence arrived here two days before the debate and prepared calmly. Harris prepared for the debate with Peter Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, who had caused a stir during the Democratic presidential primary, as her partner.

This debate is difficult to view simply as a vice presidential candidate debate. The winner among the two is highly likely to run in the next presidential election. It is generally expected that Vice President Pence, elected alongside President Trump, will run as his successor. Even if Biden wins, considering his age, he may serve only one term, so Harris is expected to follow and break the "glass ceiling."

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