Kamala Harris faces off against Mike Pence in highly-anticipated vice presidential debate

8 Oct 2020 3:17pm

Thanks for reading!

That's the end of our live blog coverage for today.

You can keep up with the latest US election news via the SBS News social media channels and website. You can also catch SBS World News at 6:30pm AEDT tonight and listen to SBS Radio podcasts on demand.

8 Oct 2020 2:48pm

Mike Pence interrupted Kamala Harris twice as much during debate

A CBS News analysis has found that Mike Pence interrupted Kamala Harris twice as much as she interrupted him during the 90-minute debate.

CBS anchor Norah O'Donnell noted Mr Pence interrupted the California senator 10 times, while she interrupted the Vice President five times.

Ms O'Donnell noted "suburban women are certainly a key constituency".

The gendered frustrations were widely acknowledged on social media by politicians and political experts alike:

8 Oct 2020 2:31pm

Debate struck 'civil tone' compared to ugly presidential clash

This analysis from AFP notes the vice presidential debate was far more "civil" than what we saw last week:

US Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday congratulated Senator Kamala Harris on the historic nature of her candidacy, in a strikingly more civil debate than the nasty presidential face-off just a week ago.

The name-calling, interruptions and attacks that marked the debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden, prompted outrage and disgust in the United States and abroad.

Just a week later, Mr Pence spoke directly to 55-year-old Ms Harris and praised her for being the first woman of color on a major party presidential ticket.

"I also want to congratulate you, as I did on that phone call, on the historic nature of your nomination," said Mr Pence, 61.

A smiling and nodding Ms Harris, who was born in California to a Jamaican father and Indian mother, courteously accepted his words with a "Thank you".

The scene was a brief interlude of politeness in a bruising campaign that seemed to scrape bottom on September 29 with Trump shouting over moderator Chris Wallace and Biden telling the president: "Will you shut up, man!"

A firm admonishment before the debate in Salt Lake City from moderator Susan Page set an expectation of basic courtesy between the vice presidential candidates.

"We want a debate that is lively. But Americans also deserve a discussion that is civil. These are tumultuous times, but we can and will have a respectful exchange," Page said.

Moments before Mr Pence offered his congratulations he also thanked the Democratic White House contenders for wishing Trump well after he tested positive for coronavirus, noting their "expressions of genuine concern".

This debate struck a more 'civil' tone than the presidential debate last week. Source: Getty / Getty Images North America

8 Oct 2020 2:15pm

Key takeaways from tonight's vice presidential debate

Here's a wrap-up of some of the key moments from the debate:

The coronavirus pandemic will remain front and centre

The coronavirus pandemic will naturally be the most defining issue of the 2020 election.

It was the first topic posed to each candidate, and prompted some emotive responses.

Criticising the Trump administration's record, Ms Harris asked the American people a series of questions: "How calm were you when you were panicked about where you were going to get your next roll of toilet paper? How calm were you when your kids were sent home from school and didn't know when they could go back? How calm were you when your children couldn't see your parents because you were afraid that they could kill you?"

Mr Pence responded: "There is not a day that's gone by that I haven't thought of every American family who has lost a loved one. And I want every American to know that you'll be in our hearts and in our prayers."

Mike Pence did not commit to a peaceful transfer of power

Mr Pence sidestepped a question about whether President Donald Trump would commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost the election.

"If we have a free and fair election, we know we’re going to have confidence in it, and I believe in my heart that President Trump will be re-elected for four more years," he said.

The Trump administration continues to defend the Rose Garden event

Mr Pence defended Mr Trump's decision to nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court at a Rose Garden ceremony on 26 September where there was no social distancing.

The event has been linked to several members of the Trump administration subsequently testing positive for COVID-19.

Mr Pence said many of the people who attended the event "actually were tested for coronavirus," before quickly moving on.

Supreme Court picks will be a recurring issue

Mr Pence pressed Ms Harris to answer whether a Biden administration would “pack” the Supreme Court by adding liberal justices if they win the election.

“Are you and Joe Biden going to pack the court if Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed? Are you going to pack the court?” he asked. “Your party is actually openly advocating adding seats to the Supreme Court, which has had 9 seats for 150 years, if you don’t get your way.”

Mr Pence added that the threat from Democrats is a “classic case of ‘if you can’t win by the rules, you change the rules.”

Mr Harris did not answer the question directly, even as Mr Pence continued to push for an answer. Mr Biden has also side-stepped the question in recent weeks - suggesting we could see it revisited over the coming weeks.

Kamala Harris refuses to 'be lectured' on race relations

When each candidate was asked about America's justice system, Ms Harris was at her most passionate as she slammed the President for refusing to condemn white supremacists.

Mr Pence responded saying he trusted the justice system and suggesting it was insulting to America's police officers to imply the country was racist.

"I will not sit here and be lectured by the vice-president on what it means to enforce the laws of this country," the former San Francisco prosecutor and California Attorney-General replied.

8 Oct 2020 1:53pm

Social media frenzy over fly's guest appearance

With the debate now concluded, here's a round-up of the best reactions... to the fly on Mike Pence's head.

Oh, don't make that face. We paid for blood and this was literally the closest we came to it.

And this from Joe Biden himself:

8 Oct 2020 1:36pm

'If our leaders can't get along, how are the citizens supposed to get along?'

The debate has concluded, with a final question from an eighth-grader basically asking when America's leaders will grow up and stop sniping.

"When the debate is over, we come together as Americans," Mr Pence said. "That is what people do all across the country. I want to encourage you. I want to tell you that we're going to work every day to have government as good as our people. The American people, each and every day, love a good debate. We love a good argument. But we always come together and are always there for one another."

Ms Harris said: "Joe Biden has a history of lifting people up and fighting for their dignity. You have to know Joe's story to know Joe has known pain, has known suffering, and he has known love. And so when you think about the future, I do believe the future is bright.

"And it will be because of your leadership and it will be because we fight for each person's voice through their vote and we get engaged in this election, because you have the ability through your work and through eventually your vote to determine the future of our country."

8 Oct 2020 1:29pm

Fly on Mike Pence's head provides healthy distraction from debate

Wait, I changed my mind!

THE WINNER OF THE DEBATE IS THIS HUMBLE FLY THAT JUST LANDED ON MIKE PENCE'S HEAD.

For real though. It already has its own Twitter account.

8 Oct 2020 1:28pm

No interruption for either candidate

Calling it early!

The winner of this debate... is all of you watching who are screaming at moderator Susan Page to cut the candidates off when their damn time is up.

Alright, back to it.

8 Oct 2020 1:23pm

'No excuse for the rioting after George Floyd's death': Pence

Asked the same question about Breonna Taylor, Mr Pence said he "trusts our justice system", but criticised the protests that followed hers and George Floyd's deaths.

"With regard to George Floyd, there's no excuse for what happened to George Floyd. Justice will be served. But there's also no excuse for the rioting and looting that followed," he said.

"I must tell you this presumption that you hear consistently from Joe Biden and Kamala Harris that America is systematically racist, that as Joe Biden said he believes that law enforcement has an implicit bias against minorities is a great insult to the men and women who serve in law enforcement.

"I want everyone to know who puts on the uniform of law enforcement every day, President Trump and I stand with you.

Ms Harris hit back slamming Mr Trump's record on race.

"The reality of this is that we are talking about an election in 27 days where last week the President of the United States took a debate stage in front of 70 million Americans and refused to condemn white supremacists.

"He didn't do it. And then he doubled down. And then he said - when pressed - 'Stand back. Stand by.'

"This is part of a pattern of Donald Trump's. He called Mexicans rapists and criminals. He instituted as his first act a Muslim ban. He, on the issue of Charlottesville, where people were peacefully protesting, the need for racial justice where a young woman was killed, and on the other side there were Neo-Nazis carrying torches, shouting racial epithets, anti-Semitic slurs, and Donald Trump when asked said, 'They were fine people on both sides'. This is who we have as the President of the United States.

"America, you deserve better. Joe Biden will be a president who brings our country together."

8 Oct 2020 1:18pm

'We will require a national registry for police officers who break the law'

We're now on the topic of race relations in America.

The moderator raised the case of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed in her apartment by police, and asked each candidate whether "justice was done".

"I don't believe so," Ms Harris replied. "I've talked with Breonna's mother and her family. Her family deserves justice. She was a beautiful young woman... and her life was taken."

Ms Harris also raised the death of George Floyd, which sparked weeks of international protests.

"I believe strongly that first of all we are never going to condone violence. But we always must fight for the values that we hold dear, including the fight to achieve our ideals. And that's why Joe Biden and I have said on this subject... bad cops are bad for good cops.

"We need reform of our policing in America and our criminal justice system, which is why Joe and I will immediately ban chokeholds and carotid holds. George Floyd would be alive today if we did that. We will require a national registry for police officers who break the law."

8 Oct 2020 1:07pm

Harris slams Trump's record on American troops

Some strong words from Ms Harris on Mr Trump's record on American troops.

It started with a conversation on the death of Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian major general who was assassinated by a US drone strike in January.

"After the strike on Soleimani, there was a counter strike on our troops in Iraq. And they suffered serious brain injuries, and do you know what Donald Trump dismissed them as? Headaches. And this is about a pattern of Donald Trump's, where he has referred to our men who are serving in our military as 'suckers and losers'.

"Donald Trump, who went to Arlington cemetery and stood above the graves of our fallen heroes, and said, 'What's in it for them?' Because, of course, he only thinks about what's in it for him.

"Let's take what he said about John McCain - a great American hero, and Donald Trump says, 'He doesn't deserve to be called a hero because he was a prisoner of war'. And this is very important - when you want to talk about who is the current commander-in-chief, and what they care about and what they don't care about.

"Russia had a bounty on the heads of American soldiers. You know what a bounty is? It's when somebody puts a price on your head and they will pay it if you are killed. And Donald Trump had talked at least six times to Vladimir Putin and never brought up the subject.

"Joe Biden would never do that. Joe Biden would hold Russia to account for any threat to our nation's security or to our troops who are sacrificing their lives for the sake of our democracy and our safety."

Mr Pence responded saying her remarks were "absurd".

"The slanders against President Donald Trump regarding men and women in our armed forces are absurd," he said.

"My son-in-law is deployed in the United States Navy. I can assure all of you, your sons and daughters serving in our military, President Donald Trump not only respects but reveres (US soldiers). Any suggestion otherwise is ridiculous."

8 Oct 2020 12:58pm

Trump weighs in on VP debate

The President has just tweeted.

8 Oct 2020 12:57pm

'China and the WHO did not play straight': Pence

We've moved on to America's relationship with China.

Mr Pence reiterated Mr Trump's stance on China. "China is to blame for the coronavirus. And President Trump is not happy about it. He's made that very clear.

"China and the World Health Organisation did not play straight with the American people. They did not let our personnel into China to get information on the coronavirus until the middle of February."

Mr Pence then reiterated his earlier argument that Mr Biden accused Mr Trump of "xenophobia" for wanting to suspend Chinese travellers at the start of the pandemic.

"Fortunately, President Trump, in dealing with China from the outset of this administration, standing up to China that had been taking advantage of America for decades in the wake of Joe Biden's cheerleading for China - President Trump made that decision before the end of January to suspend all travel from China.

"And again, the American people deserve to know - Joe Biden opposed President Trump's decision to suspend all travel from China. He said it was hysterical."

Just real quick - this is not technically true. In March, Mr Biden did put out a tweet criticising Mr Trump's "hysteria, xenophobia, and fear-mongering" in relation to China - but it was in the context of Mr Trump labelling the virus a "foreign virus" and "the China virus". He never said it was a direct reference to the travel restrictions.

Another side note - according to CNN China correspondent David Culver, this section of the debate was abruptly cut from China's broadcast of the debate:

8 Oct 2020 12:50pm

'The Trump administration is coming for you'

Ms Harris has issued a not-so-cheery warning to Americans: “If you have a pre-existing condition, heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, they’re coming for you. If you love someone who has a pre-existing condition, they’re coming for you."

8 Oct 2020 12:46pm

Harris denies Biden will raise taxes on Americans making less than $400k

Ding ding ding! We have another ~zesty~ exchange!

Kamala Harris has denied that Joe Biden would raise taxes on Americans making less than $US400,000 a year.

"We saw enough of it in last week's debate, but I think this is supposed to be a debate based on fact and truth and the truth is that Joe Biden has been very clear, he will not raise taxes on anybody who makes less than $400,000 a year," Ms Harris said.

Mr Pence interjected, but she cut him off.

"Mr Vice President, I'm speaking," Ms Harris said.

"You said the truth? Joe Biden said twice in the debate last week that he is going to repeal the Trump tax cuts. That was tax cuts that give the average working family $2000 in a tax break every single year," Mr Pence said.

"That is absolutely not true," she replied. "If you don't mind letting me finish, we can have a conversation, OK? OK."

She then continued: "Joe Biden will not raise taxes on anyone who makes less than $400,000 a year, he has been very clear about that. Joe Biden will not end fracking, he has been very clear about that."

8 Oct 2020 12:42pm

Pence praises Trump's climate change record

We've now moved on to the issue of climate change.

Mr Pence opened by praising the Trump administration's record on the environment.

Addressing the devastating wildfires that have swept the US west coast, he also blamed "bad forest management" for the catastrophe rather than climate change.

Here's a breakdown we ran earlier examining both presidential candidates' environmental policies. For what it's worth, Mr Trump's record is ... not great.

8 Oct 2020 12:34pm

Pence to Harris: 'Stop playing politics with people's lives'

Mr Pence has accused Ms Harris of "playing politics with people's lives" on the subject of the coronavirus vaccine.

Ms Harris said she would not take a coronavirus vaccine unless it was recommended by federal health experts.

"If the public health professionals, if Dr Fauci, if the doctors tell us that we should take it, I'll be the first in line to take it, absolutely," she said. "But if Donald Trump tells us that we should take it, I'm not taking it."

"The reality is we're going to have a vaccine in record time, in unheard of time," replied Mr Pence. "In less than a year. We have five companies in phase 3 clinical trials, and we're right now producing tens of millions of doses.

"So the fact that you continue to undermine public confidence in a vaccine emerging during the Trump administration is unconscionable."

"That is not what I did," Ms Harris said.

"Senator, I ask you, stop playing politics with people's lives," Mr Pence said.

Mike Pence has accused Kamala Harris of "playing politics with people's lives". Source: Getty / Getty Images North America

8 Oct 2020 12:31pm

'The American people have the right to know': Harris slams Trump on taxes

We're now back on Mr Trump's taxes. You can read more about that here, but basically, a New York Times investigation found he had paid just $750 in tax in 2016 and 2017.

Asked whether voters have a right to know more detailed health information about presidential candidates, Ms Harris honed in on the investigation.

"We now know, because of great investigative journalism, that Donald Trump paid $750 in taxes. When I first heard about it, I literally said, 'So you mean $750,000?' And it was like, 'No, $750'.

"We now know that Donald Trump owe and is in debt for $400 million. And just so everyone is clear - when we say in debt - it means that you owe money to somebody. And it would be really good to know who the President of the United States, the commander-in-chief, owes money to? Because the American people have a right to know what is influencing

the President's decisions? And is he making those decisions on the best interests of the American people? Of you? Or self-interest?

"Donald Trump has been about covering up everything."

Mr Pence hit back denying the reports. "The President said those public reports are not accurate and the President has also released literally stacks of financial disclosures the American people can review, just as the law allows."

8 Oct 2020 12:24pm

Tension between candidates during coronavirus discussion

The conversation got a little more tense as the pair continued to debate the pandemic.

"Whatever the Vice President is claiming the administration has done, clearly it hasn't worked," Ms Harris said..

"When you're looking at over 210,000 dead bodies in our country that have been lost – families are grieving that loss."

"I have to weigh in," Mr Pence interrupted.

"I'm speaking. I'm speaking," Ms Harris said.

She continued: "How calm were you when you were panicked about where you were going to get your next roll of toilet paper? How calm were you when your kids were sent home from school and didn't know when they could go back? How calm were you when your children couldn't see your parents because you were afraid that they could kill you?"

"There is not a day that's gone by that I haven't thought of every American family who has lost a loved one," Mr Pence replied.

"And I want every American to know that you'll be in our hearts and in our prayers. But when you say what the American people have done over the last eight months hasn't worked, that's a great disservice to the sacrifices the Americans people have made."

8 Oct 2020 12:22pm

Debate host releases VP 'bingo card'

We're almost 20 minutes into the debate and not a single candidate has bellowed "Shut up!" yet. All this civility is ... kind of eerie.

But if you came here for petty entertainment, fear not! The University of Utah, which is hosting the debate, has published a bingo card for all the terms and topics to look out for:

The University of Utah has released a VP debate bingo card. Source: Undefined / University of Utah

Kamala Harris faces off against Mike Pence in highly-anticipated vice presidential debate

With Donald Trump under a coronavirus cloud, and Joe Biden keeping a low profile, it is possibly the most crucial vice presidential debate ever.

Thanks for reading!

Mike Pence interrupted Kamala Harris twice as much during debate

Debate struck 'civil tone' compared to ugly presidential clash

Key takeaways from tonight's vice presidential debate

Social media frenzy over fly's guest appearance

'If our leaders can't get along, how are the citizens supposed to get along?'

Fly on Mike Pence's head provides healthy distraction from debate

No interruption for either candidate

'No excuse for the rioting after George Floyd's death': Pence

'We will require a national registry for police officers who break the law'

Harris slams Trump's record on American troops

Trump weighs in on VP debate

'China and the WHO did not play straight': Pence

'The Trump administration is coming for you'

Harris denies Biden will raise taxes on Americans making less than $400k

Pence praises Trump's climate change record

Pence to Harris: 'Stop playing politics with people's lives'

'The American people have the right to know': Harris slams Trump on taxes

Tension between candidates during coronavirus discussion

Debate host releases VP 'bingo card'

previous

1of2

next

Kamala Harris faces off against Mike Pence in highly-anticipated vice presidential debate

With Donald Trump under a coronavirus cloud, and Joe Biden keeping a low profile, it is possibly the most crucial vice presidential debate ever.

Thanks for reading!

Mike Pence interrupted Kamala Harris twice as much during debate

Debate struck 'civil tone' compared to ugly presidential clash

Key takeaways from tonight's vice presidential debate

Social media frenzy over fly's guest appearance

'If our leaders can't get along, how are the citizens supposed to get along?'

Fly on Mike Pence's head provides healthy distraction from debate

No interruption for either candidate

'No excuse for the rioting after George Floyd's death': Pence

'We will require a national registry for police officers who break the law'

Harris slams Trump's record on American troops

Trump weighs in on VP debate

'China and the WHO did not play straight': Pence

'The Trump administration is coming for you'

Harris denies Biden will raise taxes on Americans making less than $400k

Pence praises Trump's climate change record

Pence to Harris: 'Stop playing politics with people's lives'

'The American people have the right to know': Harris slams Trump on taxes

Tension between candidates during coronavirus discussion

Debate host releases VP 'bingo card'

previous

1of2

next

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