US Vice Presidential Debate 2020 Live updates: Fierce Harris raids through Pence's defence

The intense 90-minute vice-presidential debate ended with more decorum to its merit than what viewers witnessed during the first presidential face-off between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. With Democrat leader Kalama Harris patiently asking for her turn to her rival Mike Pence more or less adhering to the time-limit as per the question, Moderator Susan Page managed to ask all the relevant questions to the presidential deputies that would end up defining the election results. 

Starting from staple subjects like the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, jobs and economic growth to more ragging ones like Trump’s tax mystery, future of US-China relationship, and racial injustice, both US Vice President nominee attempted to make their case strong. While it remains to be decided by US voters who won the US Vice Presidential Debate 2020, Kamala Harris led the offensive through and through.

Concluding the lone vice-presidential debate in the US Election 2020, the final question of the evening was directed at Mike Pence over the peaceful transfer of power, if that turns out yo be the case. Pence attempted to deflect the topic with a blunt “first and foremost I think we're gonna win this election", even though some would argue that his tone was unsure.

"When you talk about accepting the outcome of the election, I must tell you, your party has spent the last three and half years trying to overturn the results of the last election," Pence attacked Harris, hinting at various investigations into alleged wrongdoings of the 2016 Trump campaign along with the infamous impeachment inquiry over US-Ukraine dealings.

Touching upon all defining topics of the US Election 2020, Susan Page brought up the subject of racial justice in the United States. When asked if Breonna Taylor, the medical worker who was shot and killed by Louisville police officers in March, got justice, Harris replied with a firm 'No'. California said that the Black woman was killed “unjustifiably, tragically, violently". 

On the other hand, Pence deflected on answering the question of 'Justice for Breonna' and backed law enforcement. He said there is no excuse for riots and looting amid the protests against racial injustice. He also denied the idea of the United States being a ‘racial country’ and said that “We don't have to choose between supporting law enforcement... and supporting minority communities.”

Taking note of the riots and violence, Harris said that Democrats will never condone violence and people “must fight”. Citing her own prosecutorial past, Harris said that “Bad cops are bad for good cops.”

Susan Page’s next question to Harris-Pence was ‘If Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalised abortion across the US in 1973, is to be lifted, and states are given the right to decide whether or not to allow it there, would Pence support abortion access in his home state of Indiana?’.

However, without answering the question, the US Vice President said that the Trump administration could not be more enthusiastic to nominate Amy Coney Barrett who is supported by the far-right and pro-life side. Harris started off by saying that she and Biden are both “people of faith” and will not unleash an attack on Barrett based on her Catholic faith, which the Republican rank has accused the Democrats of.  

Without deflecting, Harris answered the same question with “I will always fight for women to make her own decision about her own body" and addressing the matter of vacant seat at US Supreme Court following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the California Senator said that “let the American people fill the White House, and we will fill that Supreme Court seat".

Harris attacked Trump’s foreign policy saying it is about "embracing dictators around the world”. She also targetted the Trump administration for siding with Vladimir Putin despite the US intelligence community pointing out Russian interference in the US presidential elections of 2016. The California Senator then added that Donald Trump took the word of Russian President Vladimir Putin over the word of the United States intelligence community.

On the subject of US-China relationship, Harris said that Trump is “obsessed” with China and started the greatest trade war in the world which she believes the United States has "clearly" lost. However, Pence rebutted saying “Lost the trade war with China? Joe Biden never fought it." 

The US Vice President said Biden has been a “cheerleader for communist China” and that the Asian country should be blamed for the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Harris said the US-China war resulted in the loss of American lives, American jobs, and America's standing in the world.

Meanwhile, since the tweet-battle is also going on the sideline of the debate, Donald Trump lauded Pence and said that Harris is a "gaffe machine".

As Moderator Susan Page brought up US' withdrawal from the 2015 Paris climate accord, Pence said that he is proud of the Trump administration’s record on climate change as well as conservation and noted that American air-land-water resources are cleanest as ever. While Pence defended Trump's “commitment” to conservation, Harris said that the Biden administration will take United States back to the Paris Climate Accord. That, according to Pence will hurt the US economy.

Harris-Pence also talked about the forest wildfires and hurricanes that threaten US coasts. While Trump has a history of stirring controversy by questioning the science on the climate crisis, Pence said “It will start getting cooler” and he went on to add that “I don’t think science knows, actually”. The California Senator also attacked the Trump-Pence administration for their “pattern” of dismissing science.

From the COVID-19 pandemic to the economy, the next topic in the US Vice President Debate soar to be ‘Would raising taxes put the US recovery at risk?’. To this, Harris said that Joe Biden will make college education more affordable. 

While Pence defended Trump’s tax cuts and said that more money has been put in the pockets of average Americans, Harris had said Trump measures progress based on how the rich are doing. According to the California Senator, this is why Trump passed a tax bill benefiting the 1%, she says, "leading to a two trillion dollar deficit" which she promised Biden will repeal on Day 1.

Harris attacked Donald Trump over his tax returns details as released by the New York Times last month and laid emphasis on the need for “transparency”. While Harris lauded Joe Biden for being open about every issue, Pence replied by touting Trump as the “job creator” and that he is a “businessman”. 

The NYT investigative report had cited Trump's sealed tax returns data to state that he did not pay any federal income taxes in 10 of the past 15 years, largely because he reported losing much more money than he made.

From COVID-19 pandemic to role of vice presidents to the economy, to next topic being ‘Would raising taxes put the US recovery at risk?’. Harris said that Joe Biden will make college education more affordable. While Pence defended Trump’s tax cuts and said that more money will be put in the pockets of Americans, Harris had said Trump measures it based on how rich the people are. According to the Senator, this is why Trump passed a tax bill benefiting the 1%, she says, "leading to a two trillion dollar deficit" which Biden will repeal on Day 1.
 

When Moderator Susan Page asked Harris about the Trump administration’s vaccine optimism especially when the US President has been publicly downplaying the severity of COVID-19, the California Senator said that she would be “first in line” if medical professionals approve the COVID-19 vaccine but not if just Trump is touting it. 

As the question went to Pence, he ignored the remarks on Trump’s age and his role as US Vice President. Instead, he went back to the vaccine comments made by Harris. As Page put forth the question again but unlike Harris, Pence avoided the question.

With two minutes to respond, as expected, the COVID-19 pandemic is the opening question for both Harris and Pence. California Senator called it the “greatest failure” and said that both Trump and Pence were informed about the nature of the pandemic from January 28. 

While Harris denounced the Trump administration's response to the pandemic stating that more than 210,000 Americans have lost their life, Pence lauded the same. From quick lockdown to making other swift decisions, Pence went on to condemn the Biden-Harris approach that according to him “looks plagiarised”. 

Harris answered the opening question first, followed by Pence. On getting a chance to respond to US VP’s remarks, Senator said that whatever the Trump administration did “it clearly didn’t work”.

As the US vice-presidential debate between incumbent Mike Pence and California Senator Kamala Harris is just minutes away, there are several points that the viewers and voters shall look for on October 8 (India time). With all the necessary precautions to prevent COVID-19 transmission, Pence and Harris will be pitted against each other at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City at 6:30 AM (IST) for at least 90 minutes.

The only vice-presidential debate comes after a chaotic week in the United States involving first disjointed debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, US President’s COVID-19 diagnosis, followed by his hospitalisation and return to the White House. While Pence-Harris showdown is coming with higher stakes with both candidates trying to prove the worth of next US President, there are five things to watch on October 8.