Pence vs. Harris – Who won?
Tonight was the first and last Vice Presidential debate, Vice President Pence vs Senator Kamala Harris. It was moderated by Susan Page from USAToday. It consisted of nine segments meant to be 10 minutes each. Note that I am thoroughly biased in my support for Trump, I will attempt to leave it behind to determine who won (my decision is at the bottom, so read all of this!).
Environmentals – VP Pence was very calm and confident, he has a strong voice and was well prepared.
In my opinion, Sen. Harris has a less impressive voice, and while well prepared, was prepared with points that were readily countered in this kind of forum. She occasionally smiled and laughed awkwardly, and she was abrasive in some exchanges.
Interestingly, Pence seemed to extend some graciousness in the middle of the debate, thanking Harris for her well wishes for Trump. He did this a couple of times, which gave him even more control.
The stage was quiet, the crowd not a factor. Even the plastic shield between them did not seem to have any effect on the exchanges. No technical issues. Pence had a fly land on his head that he did not notice, it was gone in a few minutes.
I did not check this, but Harris was said to have more speaking time than Pence.
Bias – I believe Susan Page genuinely attempted to not be biased, but her bias was clear. She spent a good deal of time in the beginning chastizing the candidates for the last debate (in my opinion, chastizing Trump). And I believed some of her questions had a huge liberal bias (although well handled by Pence).
COVID – Harris started with the current Biden campaign memes on the “failure” of the Trump administration to deal properly with the pandemic. However Pence’s responses were VERY well prepared, and given equal time noted that scientists predicted that 2.2 million people would die without a proper response and predicted 200,000 would die even with the best response.
Pence managed to emphasize several times that Biden was opposed to shutting down travel with China in the very early stages. He described the most massive response ever for a disease and all of the parts, including the fastest development of a vaccine in history.
Pence also noted that much of Biden’s response as stated on his campaign site was exactly what has happened so far. He was able to bring home a dig about Biden “plagiarizing” Trump’s plan.
Another key quote, Pence to Harris “Stop playing politics with people’s lives” and “Don’t undermine people’s confidence in the vaccine.”
Oldest President – A question was asked about succession plans since the next President will be the oldest. Neither candidate answered it. Both seemed to note that transparency in the President’s health was important.
Economic Recovery – Harris tried to note how great Obama’s recovery was. She attempted to talk about lost manufacturing jobs under Trump. Pence countered that 700,000 manufacturing jobs disappeared under Obama and that Obama said they were not coming back. He also noted Trump had already brought back 500,000 manufacturing jobs. Pence seemed very well prepared.
Pence nailed Harris on her claim that taxes would not be raised on the middle class. She stated she would cancel the Trump tax cuts the first day. Pence said that the revocation of the Trump tax cuts would raise taxes on the middle class. Pence did not yield the point, it was well made.
Climate change – Harris pushed the narrative of the disaster of climate change in hurricanes and the fires in California. This is a narrative that has been pushed by the liberal media.
Pence’s response was very honest and polished, that our environment was the best ever and well respected by the Trump Administration. Given the liberal power behind this narrative, Pence perhaps did not win on this point.
Pence did, however, noted that the Green New Deal (which has picked up a huge negative connotation) is mention on the Biden campaign site as the “crucial framework” for Biden’s plan, even though Biden has denied that it is his plan.
Roe v. Wade – Question was avoided by both sides.
Packing the Supreme Court – Pence attempted to get an answer from Harris as to whether they would “pack the court” i.e., add enough liberal Justices (up to 13 Justices, versus the current 9). Harris refused to answer, even after being prodded several times by Pence. Pence then said the obvious that they would definitely do it. Harris did not respond.
Election – This was a thoroughly biased question. It was phrased as “If Trump loses and does not yield power what will you do.” To her credit, Harris did not take the bait, not giving credibility to this crazy liberal narrative.
Pence took the bull by the horns and noted that the Democrats were the ones who had not accepted the 2016 election results and listed the 3 year Russia conspiracy investigation and the Ukraine phone call as a justification for impeachment.
Who won?
Pence won this by a mile.
He was in control, his answers were substantive responsive and he clearly knocked the liberal narratives out of the park.
Harris’s manner did not endear her to the audience. Her narratives were in many cases the false ones being perpetuated by the liberal media. Her claims of “failures” by the Trump Administration were clearly and smoothly rebutted by Pence.
Pence was able to nail the Harris/Biden ticket on fracking, on the economy, on the Green New Deal and packing the Supreme Court.
My opinion is supported by the short time afterward where I watched CNN. The clearly liberal-biased commentators were making excuses for Harris. It was a bit sad.
As I said, I am not unbiased here, but I believe this is a clear victory for Pence.
Final Comments
This was a more influential debate than is usually the case for Vice Presidential debates. If Biden wins, Harris has a good chance to be President at some point. After the debate war last week, this was much clearer and much easier to understand. Much will depend on the Nielsen ratings here.
Pence was great. Harris was a joke. She even trotted out the lie that Trump only paid $750 in taxes The Dems keep bringing it up, but it just shows they have no idea f how the tax code works
I fully agree with you and I believe that the IRS does the job of investigating all Tax returns as their job description dictates and will audit suspected returns, even Trumps Can any of the Democrats open up their returns now. Perhaps all member of the House, Senate, and even SCOTUS should be forced to open their returns.
The Democratic Leadership hires investigators to find any reason that X happened and to use any narrative to justify it. Frankly, after the last 12 years of total BS and lies, it I am sick and tired of it. I can’t trust them to stay with in the boundaries of common since much less with the confines of their job description and Laws. Their party is into wasteful spending of our taxes like its just water coming out the faucet. Pelosi wants nearly 3 Trillion dollars to give away and to change the rules to favor the Democrats. Lets leave the rules alone. Now back to her nearly $3 trillion dollar bill. This is absurd. The government only collects 3.2 trillion in taxes each year. How is our government suppose to run on only .2 trillion dollars, pick dollar bills off the Money Tree?
In their present direction they are going they cannot be trusted with any leadership of this country, and I am an independent. The Democratic leadership is a total disaster and has never accepted the results of the 2016 election so why even answer them on a peaceful transition, if they continue to cheat at the poles?
I go neither Blue or Red, I go purple.
Pence was a puppet for the puppeteer Trump. Trump told him what to say to make Trump look good. Who fact checked what pence was spurting. He was vile, had no respect for the moderator or Harris, Biden or Obama. Trump has no respect or remorse for what he has done to rape and plunder this country.
It seems the bias media have their hand up your back and your strings very well in hand!
I agree with your comments. Vice Pres. Biden was “presidential”….did a good job. Strong in manner and word!
Amy Smith. Biden started out with condemning obnoxious comments like a child filled with hate.
The debate winner question is not the issue; the election is. Vote Republican and save America from destructive socialism.
ABSOLUTELY! Vote Republican all the way up and down the ticket.
Pence is the most Presidential person I have seen since Ronald Reagan. I can’t even imagine that if a frail Joe Biden wins and his health problems make him leave office that a President Harris would lead the most powerful country in the world we are in trouble.
I have researched information for years as a political activist, and V.P. Pence was right on. Marxist Kamala had praised the Marxist BLM to a Times reporter. Pence had to push for his time, since it appeared Kamala had a few extra moments several times, and was not honest in her comments. We’ve read where she and Biden mentione defunding the police,and as a prosecutor she has helped release criminals.Maybe more people should be researching and fact finding themselves.
Eli, I totally agree. Everyone must do their own research and stop with believing everything the msm says.
VP Pence was given a little under the two minute they were supposed to have, while Harris was given a bit over three. Page seemed to be more focused on giving Harris ample time to attempt to answer questions that were non-answers given.
I agree……PENCE WON!
I’m a Trump fan from the beginning. I was never a fan of Pence until last night. He destroyed Harris who never answered a question she was asked. Also she lied so many times that I lost track. Trump called the military losers! No way. I saw Biden on video defaming soldiers, even if he meant it as a joke, it was bad. So Dave you’re purple. Hmmm. I guess it’s ok with you that a socialist/communist becomes our president. You really believe that Biden will last more than a year, I don’t. That means Harris will be president and she will make Spartacus VP. Not me. I’ll stick with the American loving Trump.
Sadly, Harris makes a typical Democrat by being a big liar like the majority of them! They wouldn’t know the truth if it hit them in the face!
Peter, I disagree with Harris making Booker VP. She will make Killery her VP. Killery will Clintoncide Harris and Killery will become queen of the USSA. 🙂
Pense didn’t say much from his heart. Harris was connected to the moment
Hey Dot , what R U putting up ur nose
I meant to add, I don’t think President Trump would have had to respond as aggressively in the 1st debate, if the moderators were not strong liberals, ready to pounce on him, as Biden did. Now, it has been mentioned, that the next moderator is Scully, who was associated with Biden before. So how is this right?? Biden started out unprofessional, right away with condemnation, saying President Trump lies, and was the worst president of the U. S.. That was his opinion and not facts, if you research President Trump’s accomplishments ignored by the liberal media. Often in press conferences, reporters have been rude and disruptive to President Trump. So what did they expect? I recall Bidens debate years ago, which many found irritating and offensive, just as this last debate. Biden started out obnoxious.
Pence was Winner. Harris was nasty with all of her smirking she is not Presidential and she knows nothing of foreign policy and lied like a dog!
Great job by Pence!
The philosophy of debating is when a debater starts calling the opponent names, when confronted by the facts, she has lost the debate.
Pence NEVER referred to Harris by anything but her name. He did,; however, tell her, “…you are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts!:
Debate ratings: 1. FLY, 2. Pence, 3. Harris
Prnce wssbori g never gave clear answer’s acted like a robot borne ce is not presidential acts like a dumb unprepared rock
Pence should have been less diffident. Should have brought up Biden’s massive bribe-taking, for which China owns Biden. Should also have brought up Demo encouragement of the riots. As for false claims that Trump referred to violent people as “good people on both sides,” Pence should have flatly called out Harris and Biden as liars. Pence should also have emphasized that Obama gave Iran BILLIONS of dollars to spend on conventional and nuclear terrorism.
Pence won!!!!
Harris acted like a school girl with her first prom dress in and awaited a kiss from king court!!!! No kids tonight Harris.
Democrats have wasted California a long with the other dummies AOC the leader and Pelosi the nervous Nancy act and Schummer with his big mouth, liar Schiff and wasted waters
GO TRUMP/PENCE 2020 the right choice for freedom and America