Television duel with Pence and Harris: runners-up would make the best bosses

The television duel between Trump and Biden is still in the bones of Americans, when Vice President Pence and his challenger Harris meet to debate. And that is completely different from the candidate meeting.

It’s still possible for American politicians to debate each other without total chaos – this is the first message sent since the vice-presidential debate on Wednesday night local time. After the shouting show the previous week between US President Trump and his challenger Biden, Republican Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris met. Compared to the meeting between the bosses, it was downright relaxing, but by no means boring. At least in phases a discussion arose and arguments could be heard.

It was a bit of a paradox that this vice-presidential debate received more attention than ever, but this election is very different than it used to be. There is the marked polarization of the political fields, which creates anger and determination on both sides. But above all, two old men are applying for the position. Biden would be 78 years old in January 2021, Trump “only” 74 and thus older than any other president when he took office. If the first man of the state fails, the vice president has to intervene, as happened, for example, after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963.

The duel was also exciting because here two people were arguing who could hardly be more different. On the one hand, Kamala Harris, black, the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, both immigrants, who made a career as a police officer in California and is now a senator. On the other hand, Mike Pence, Trump’s second loyal husband, who is considered an arch-conservative and who is said to be never alone in a room with a woman. So many opposites at once: woman versus man, black versus white, urban West Coast versus rural Midwest, and of course: Democrat versus Republican.

Pence had the hardest job

Since there is only one vice presidential debate, “USA Today” anchor Susan Page had to cover as many topics as possible in the 90 minutes; it began, as expected, with the crisis of the crown. Harris was hitting bad deeds. “We are experiencing the greatest government failure in the history of our country,” he said. Trump and Pence had already learned in January how dangerous the virus is, but did not react. Instead, they downplayed the dangers, the president even saying it was nothing more than a pipe dream (“hoax”).

Seven million people infected with corona in the United States, more than 210,000 deaths, and a virus that continues to spread is actually not a particularly good record. Especially since other countries managed to control the pandemic much better. Add to that Trump’s own infection and the White House outbreak: Pence had the hardest job on this issue. Like Trump, he argued that entry from China had been banned right at the start of the pandemic, which Biden had criticized as xenophobic and hysterical. This is how millions of lives have been saved.

But that’s only a half truth: The Democrat has described Trump as hysterical and xenophobic, but approved the entry restrictions. He also said that these were not enough to combat the pandemic. Nonetheless, it was noted that Pence appears to be much more reluctant to simply assert anything, as Trump so often does. He formulated more cautiously, more seriously. For example, the vice president said he believed they would have a vaccine by the end of the year, while Trump presented it as fact. However, experts warn that despite promising research, it may take much longer.

“Mr. Vice President? I’m talking now.”

Corona, of course, was not the only topic, there was much to discuss: foreign policy, climate change and the appointment of judges were just a few. In business terms, Pence noted that regulations had been abolished and tax breaks created for everyone. He accused Harris and Biden of wanting to raise taxes. “Only for everyone who makes more than $ 400,000,” replied the Democrat, who also refused to want to ban controversial drilling for gas (“fracking”) or even fossil fuels, an issue that, for example, in the controversial state of Pennsylvania, is a defining issue for many people’s choices. could be. When asked about the protests that followed George Floyd’s death, Harris unsurprisingly sided with the protesters but condemned the violence. Pence was particularly critical of this, saying that it was an insult to call America a racist.

It was good that Harris and Pence treated each other with some respect and fairness. Pence straddled from time to time, but as happens in such formats. Harris always said in a friendly and determined way, “Mr. Vice President? I’m speaking now,” or just as calmly, “Let me finish.” Pence said she respected Harris for her career in public office, it was an “honor” to be on stage with her, and she even described it as “historic” for her to run for vice president as a woman.

And who made the best figure now? That probably depends on your political position. Harris was very confident, competent and tough at the same time, for example when she put pennies in their place, but she was also empathetic when talking about people suddenly lining up for food stamps during the economic crisis. At the same time, it seemed dynamic and completely up-to-date, in which the actual candidate Biden is not always successful.

Pence appeared at the same time as the civilian version of Trump. On the matter he was totally in line with the president’s line, but he had a much more conciliatory tone. They both did their job: they tried to make up for the weaknesses of their bosses. And so convincingly that one might think that the best presidential candidates were on the podium.