Vice presidential debates are seldom memorable, but the October
7 contest between Republican Mike Pence and Democrat Kamala Harris broke new
ground. Aside from the first appearance by a woman of color on the vice
presidential debate stage,
this debate featured a
fly who by the end of
the evening had 4,067 social media followers. The Fly landed in Vice President
Pence’s hair and stayed over two minutes. We could comment on the symbolism.
But we won’t. Don’t ever say 2020 hasn’t been a strange year.
Beyond the adventures
of The Fly, most post-debate analysis focused on whether it
changed the
trajectory of a race that’s looking like a potential blowout. The Biden-Harris
ticket entered the debate leading by 9.5 points in the fivethirtyeight.com polling average. Polls
released right before the debate showed Biden-Harris ahead by as much as 16
points.
We agree with the
pundit consensus that
nothing in the debate fundamentally changed the race even
though CNN’s
instant poll showed Harris winning, 59-38. Women
thought Harris won, 69-31.
Each Had Their Moments
Both candidates
entered the debate with specific objectives, some multi-layered and nuanced.
Pence, a smooth speaker who
politely, even gently, parrots Republican talking
points, defended President
Trump’s disturbing coronavirus, climate change, and foreign policy
failures. He tried presenting more of a conventional Republican agenda and less
of Trump’s personality cult, arguably describing a presidency that doesn’t
exist. He pushed the case Harris will lead Biden down a leftist, socialist path
that over- taxes and overregulates. Pence made his points and got whatever
mileage he could out of raising that set of issues.
Harris, being part of
a ticket that’s ahead, but
still somewhat unknown herself, had to get people
comfortable with the idea she can handle the presidency since Biden would take
office at age 78. Responding to the succession question, she reminded voters of
her resume
as a three-time
elected official. She had strong moments on restoring America’s role in the
world and the virtue in the Biden-Harris candidacy of having significant
Republican support. She also tried laying out the ticket’s program since Biden
didn’t get to in the first
presidential debate because
of Trump’s interruptions and bullying. She effectively put the Affordable
Care Act on the ballot with the reminder, “They’re coming for you,” when
she identified a list of impacts terminating the act would cause. The instant
poll results and the commentary suggested she succeeded.
Missed Opportunities
If both candidates
had their moments, both missed opportunities. Harris, for example, could have
used the Breonna Taylor question
in
promoting how a Biden Justice Department might use federal civil rights laws in
such cases and remedy the failures of Bill
Barr as attorney
general. She also could have been
stronger in her condemnation of the White House events that apparently spread
the corona virus.
Pence, for his part, simply ducked a number of questions,
like whether he had conferred with Trump
about a transfer of power in light of the president’s covid-19
illness. The country needs an answer to that question and a good one might have
done the Trump campaign some political good.
Pence may have been catering to Trump with his refusal to adhere to the
time limits, but had he followed them, he might have gained credibility for
making the debate process more dignified and civil. Critically, Pence didn’t
answer the core values question of whether Trump will peacefully transfer power
if he loses.
Gender and Race
Inevitably gender and
race were likely to
become part of this debate. The historic nature of the
Harris candidacy assured that. The gender component manifest itself most in
Pence’s incessant habit of exceeding his time (which moderator Susan
Page of USA Today tried
controlling, mostly unsuccessfully) and the fact he frequently interrupted
Harris. He didn’t do it as rudely and as aggressively as Trump did on September
29, but he did it. It didn’t go unnoticed. Women commentators on the cable
networks took him to task, as did our female life partners. Like Harris, they
didn’t appreciate Pence’s “lectures” about her record or approach to certain
issues.
Pence also probably didn’t earn the Republican ticket any
minority group votes by denying the existence of systemic racism
or by supporting the grand jury findings in the Taylor
case that resulted in no indictments against the police officers who killed
her. Given the racial reckoning going on in the country, few reasons exist for
taking those positions except knee jerk support for police or cultivating the backing
of white nationalists and similar minded individuals. Perhaps Pence feared
distinguishing himself from Trump.
Back to the Fly
The Fly generated a
lot of post-debate frivolity,
including Biden’s use of a fly swatter in a fundraising
pitch. Debates in presidential campaigns often disappoint and people need something
to talk about aside from each candidate’s delivery and style. The Fly added
that this time. Still, it was serious business as the vice-presidential debate
– and we usually only have one – has become an important part in the process of
electing a president. With both presidential candidates in their 70s, getting a
sense of the woman and man who might replace them mattered.
Voters who want Trump’s policies – if not his style – can take comfort in Pence’s performance, for
all its flaws. He has some of Trump’s capacity for rudeness, but he wasn’t
outlandish, just disconcerting. He knows the drill on the Republican agenda.
Harris showed she and Biden are on the same page.
We think they have the better of it on policy, character, and preparation.
Harris showed herself capable of taking the baton from Biden and running with
it should that become necessary, suggesting she achieved her most important
objective.
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