4 Takeaways From The Mike Pence-Kamala Harris Vice Presidential Debate

Speaker 1: 00:00 The vice presidential debate last night was particularly significant at a time when the presidential candidates are both in their seventies. And we're in the midst of a pandemic, both Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, dodged questions about how they might handle an emergency that required them to step in, but they did reveal sharp contrasts in the two parties agendas here to reflect on what we learned from the debate is Michael Smolins columnist for the San Diego union Tribune. Mike, thanks for being with us. Speaker 2: 00:27 Thanks for having me on Alison. Speaker 1: 00:30 So what did you think voters got out of last night's debate and it, you know, what, what was your takeaway? Speaker 2: 00:36 Well, I, I think that, that might've been a little bit of a relief that, that there were some sharp exchanges, but it was, it was a civil debate after the presidential debate last week. And we almost forgot what that was like. Uh, it wasn't, you know, entirely, uh, you know, gloves on, um, they took some tough shots at each other, spoke over each other and went beyond their time limits. But the bottom line is that vice presidential debates really don't often factor in much, uh, to the election dynamic. And I think it's safe to say that this one did not Speaker 1: 01:12 Okay. Well, covert of course, it's top of mind for everybody. Um, and the two candidates did respond to it as it is one of the first questions in the debate here is part of their exchange, whatever the vice president is claiming the administration has done. Clearly it hasn't worked when you're looking at over 210,000 dead bodies in our country, American lives that have been lost families that are grieving that loss. Speaker 2: 01:38 But when you say what the American people have done over these last eight months, hasn't worked, that's a great disservice to the sacrifices the American people have made. Speaker 1: 01:50 What do you think he was referring to in terms of the sacrifices people have made? Speaker 2: 01:55 Well, I think he was trying to turn things back on, uh, uh, vice presidential candidate Harris, uh, you know, she was talking about the administration, uh, she wasn't talking about the American people and the people that have stayed home that has have worn mass and done the right thing. Uh, you know, so he, he did try to suggest that she was, uh, you know, taking a shot at them, which wasn't the case, but, you know, he was in a difficult position, uh, in large part to his and president Trump's own doing because they have not, uh, really come up with a coherent strategy to try to approach how to, to contain, uh, the coronavirus outbreak. Uh, so it was a tough position to defend against. And I think as we saw through the, uh, the night on that and other issues, he sought to change the subject somehow, or at least change the direction. Speaker 1: 02:43 Yes, there were, there were a number of questions that the candidates dotted both of them, in fact, and of course that is normal political tactics, but it did seem more plate blatant last night than usual. For example, they, neither of them answered the question about whether they had a plan for assuming power, their respective presidents were incapacitated. Um, do you think we learned anything from the candidates performance to tell us about who they are and how they might govern Speaker 2: 03:09 That was the most significant question that as you point out when unanswered with, uh, the presidential candidates, as old as they are, uh, you know, the, the, the, the passing of power is a very significant question, uh, in this election. And, uh, it was a shame that neither of them even came close to answering it. They just went on to other things. Speaker 1: 03:30 And then, um, Mike Pence completely avoided the question about preexisting conditions, which is, you know, a very important issue for many voters and healthcare is a strong suit for the Biden campaign. Do you, do you think that he set people's minds at rest about healthcare? Speaker 2: 03:46 I D I don't, you know, they, he reiterated as the president has said, we have a plan. Well, there is no plan and it's four years in and they don't have a plan. They haven't pushed a plan. Uh, they're in court to try to strike down the only existing plan, which is the affordable care act known as Obamacare. And the big component of that of course, is, uh, uh, you know, coverage for people with preexisting conditions. He also talked about how, uh, the public doesn't like it, or I'm paraphrasing. It is, it is against Obamacare over time. Uh, I think a very strong majority, according to polls have, uh, agreed that it's a good thing for the country to have. So, uh, it's a tough argument for them to make, but again, not having any plan of their own to counter that other than just some rhetoric, uh, false, pretty flat. Speaker 1: 04:37 Yeah, no. In terms of not addressing the question, Harris did not directly address pencil's question about court packing. I mean, do you think Pence was effective in his accusations on the issue of the Supreme court? Speaker 2: 04:48 I do. I, I thought so. I thought just, you know, and also talking about, uh, you know, uh, the, uh, nominated justice Barrett, um, I think that that focus, uh, might help energize the conservative base, what it might do to potential swing voters. I don't know. And, and probably not much sort of lingering question I have is that's an important issue, whether they, you know, expand the Supreme court or so-called tactic court, but it's, uh, it's a little bit of an insider game right now. And I just don't think that's at the top of people's agendas. Uh, like I said, I think that that is something that alarms conservatives and people that are really paying close attention to watching a lot of cable news. But, uh, for the average voter, I just don't know whether that's something that's going to, uh, uh, swing their vote. Yeah. Speaker 1: 05:38 Well, speaking of voters agendas, you know, they did differentiate themselves very clearly on climate change, you know, Harris called it an existential threat and Penn spoke of climate alarmists, but how important do you think climate change is to voters? Speaker 2: 05:52 I think it's very important. I, you know, I've written about this and talked it that it's, it's unfortunate with everything else going on, that it is, uh, being pretty much ignored there, there was just a, a story the other day about how, um, September this past September was the hottest September ever on record. Well, to find that store, I mean, that's a significant story, but to find that story on any given day, this week, uh, you really had to search for it. And, uh, you know, it's, uh, I think, uh, Jerry Brown said this got former governor, Jerry Brown said this about the nuclear war threat, as well as climate change, uh, sort of the end of the world. Isn't news. Uh, there's been so much going on in the moment. There's still as a sentence that that's far in the future, but we're finding almost on a daily basis, uh, that is coming upon us pretty quick. Uh, so I do think that, that people are very concerned about that, but, uh, we seem to be hyperventilating over so much else right now. Speaker 1: 06:49 Well, finally, you know, do you think Penn succeeded in painting Harris as far more liberal than Biden? Did he win over more undecideds? Speaker 2: 06:57 I think he was effective when he brought up the green new deal and that they opposed fracking, which of course the Biden Harris ticket doesn't, but she, at one point did support the green new deal, which has become this red flag. I'm mixing my color metaphors there, um, to, to conservative voters that the expense, you know, the limits on whatever they may be able to, to in terms of driving. Did they swing anybody? I don't really think so in that regard. Speaker 1: 07:24 Great. Well, Michael, where was like talking to you, thanks so much for joining us. Speaker 2: 07:28 Thank you for having me on again. Speaker 1: 07:30 We've been speaking with Michael Smolins columnist for the San Diego union Tribune.