Tonight is the VP debate, and it’s possible it will carry more meaning than usual due to the age of both candidates and the health of President Trump. My expectations: as you might remember from my coverage of the Republican convention, I thought Pence’s keynote was relatively effective and oriented toward senior citizens, in particular. Well, I expect the same aim tonight from Pence, especially following recent polls showing the Trump-Pence ticket losing to Biden-Harris among seniors by over 20 points. For Harris, she should resist the understandable temptation to treat Pence as her opponent, and instead be relentlessly focused on reminding voters who is at the top of the ticket. Pence will ask voters tonight to imagine what he says about Trump is more real than who voters know Trump to be. Pence will make coherent arguments tonight, and ask that voters assume Trump has a coherent philosophy as well because of it. Given the state of the race, Pence will be on the offensive, but he can’t win if Harris makes a case for her ticket to the American people and holds primarily addresses Pence as Trump’s representative.
Sidenote: will we get a debate on religious freedom tonight?
Finally, over the next couple weeks I am planning several posts, at least one of them exclusively for subscribers, that respond to questions many of you have asked. Two of the posts include my thoughts on how Christians should think about voting, as well as a post about abortion and this election. I hope these posts will be helpful to you, and would love for you to become a paid subscriber so you can be sure to receive all of that content and more.
Let me know what you’re looking for in tonight’s debate. Looking forward to watching it with you.
Pence is doing exactly what Harris should be doing only it makes less sense for Pence to do it. Pence repeatedly referencing Biden and asking Harris to answer for Biden (she's really good at doing that, by the way). Harris needs to be saying the name Donald Trump more.
Do you think she should mention Trump’s name more in reference to what he has done (policy) or what he has said / his rhetoric? I feel like they are two different things because everyone on both sides basically knows we can take things he says seriously....is it effective to attack his speech? (For example, she just mentioned his comments on science and the wildfires).
Not going to do an analysis post. Main thing to watch is whether Biden's advantage among seniors shrinks a bit...that's the primary impact this debate would have, if it has any at all. Mostly, I think Harris avoided any major missteps, and Pence's performance was not enough to overcome the deficiencies at the top of the ticket.
I worry a bit that Harris is approaching this debate as if the audience and the general voter is super read into politics/Pence/etc. and has set opinions about him. I don't think that is the case. This was a problem in her primary campaign...playing to too small and narrow an audience.
Harris really strong on jobs and the economy. Exceptional defending Biden. You can tell she's done the work of getting to know Biden's record and history.
+Will Pence's approach be distinct from the secular nationalist right, the Christian Nationalist right, and the prosperity gospel right?
+Will Harris be conciliatory and positive about Christians considering her history with Amy Coney Barrett and the upcoming confirmation conflict?
+Will Harris focus on covid, healthcare, economy, or on attacking Trump and polarized issues?
+Will Pence make tangible suggestions about how the Trump administration will improve in term 2: covid, healthcare, economy, immigration, foreign policy?
+I think Pence was positive on the first item, distinct from the nationalist right, not much Christian Nationalism, maybe not much distinctly Christian.
+I think Harris was fairly meh on religion and SCOTUS.
+I think Harris had a good balance of central issues and indicting Trump's failures.
+I think Pence mostly came up short on term 2 improvements.
Do you think that was universally felt? I personally felt he took the more polite DJT approach of going over time, tone was so overtly condescending and I felt like I was being gaslighted the whole time. Is this because I’m a young female Dem? Or did other demographics feel that too? And I can’t get over that he didn’t answer the abortion question!!
Maybe this is simply a contrast to Trump but he was calm, polite, looked at the camera and had a clear agenda. Even his attacks on Harris seemed reasonable - he didn't get worked up and call her any names and kept a level voice. At times I felt Harris was condescending.
It seems to me that Harris picking on the decisions of the Trump and his administration during an unknown time is shallow. Sure, there was no clear, cohesive strategy - and there still isn't, but questioning the decisions in the early stages of the pandemics rings hollow.
I feel like Kamala could’ve gone into how, even if the Breonna Taylor decision was right legally, it was not moral or just, which is the entire reason why there needs to be systemic change in law enforcement. Why did she shift so quickly to Floyd?
Pence’s response was that he was surprised that, as a prosecutor, she didn’t accept the decision of a grand jury. If she argued the decision was lawful but unjust, it would’ve been a perfect segueu to systemic injustice written into the law
Yeah, I agree. I think Harris would've liked to have more time to press on that. Maybe challenge Pence to commit to resigning and vacating if they lose and Trump doesn't honor the result.
I don’t watch many debates, but does the moderator appear to be giving Pence the toughest questions? (or is it just that it’s easy to find tough questions for this administration)
Pence is doing exactly what Harris should be doing only it makes less sense for Pence to do it. Pence repeatedly referencing Biden and asking Harris to answer for Biden (she's really good at doing that, by the way). Harris needs to be saying the name Donald Trump more.
There you go - she's doing this with foreign policy
Do you think she should mention Trump’s name more in reference to what he has done (policy) or what he has said / his rhetoric? I feel like they are two different things because everyone on both sides basically knows we can take things he says seriously....is it effective to attack his speech? (For example, she just mentioned his comments on science and the wildfires).
BOTH
can’t* lol
Not going to do an analysis post. Main thing to watch is whether Biden's advantage among seniors shrinks a bit...that's the primary impact this debate would have, if it has any at all. Mostly, I think Harris avoided any major missteps, and Pence's performance was not enough to overcome the deficiencies at the top of the ticket.
This is exactly what Harris needs to do tonight...remind voters who Donald Trump is and prosecute the case against him. Her best answer of the night.
I worry a bit that Harris is approaching this debate as if the audience and the general voter is super read into politics/Pence/etc. and has set opinions about him. I don't think that is the case. This was a problem in her primary campaign...playing to too small and narrow an audience.
mmm, yes, true
Harris really strong on jobs and the economy. Exceptional defending Biden. You can tell she's done the work of getting to know Biden's record and history.
Another old-school Republican throwback to ask "what's the cause" of climate change.
Exactly what I was thinking
Harris conveys that she is engaged--that she's in the game, so to speak--so viscerally.
Main thought watching Pence is that Trump is really, really bad at politics
🤔 yeah... Why didn't Rs impeach Trump and ride with Pence? I mean, obviously, but
Can you unpack that? I mean, I agree. But what about Pence=Trump bad at politics?
Pence actually makes a case. Shows magnanimity. Is clearly executing on a strategy. etc. etc.
Ha. I see. Yes. 100%
Tonight is going to be cathartic for Democrats...we'll see what else is accomplished
Thanks once again Michael for carving out this space.
Looking for:
+Will Pence's approach be distinct from the secular nationalist right, the Christian Nationalist right, and the prosperity gospel right?
+Will Harris be conciliatory and positive about Christians considering her history with Amy Coney Barrett and the upcoming confirmation conflict?
+Will Harris focus on covid, healthcare, economy, or on attacking Trump and polarized issues?
+Will Pence make tangible suggestions about how the Trump administration will improve in term 2: covid, healthcare, economy, immigration, foreign policy?
+I think Pence was positive on the first item, distinct from the nationalist right, not much Christian Nationalism, maybe not much distinctly Christian.
+I think Harris was fairly meh on religion and SCOTUS.
+I think Harris had a good balance of central issues and indicting Trump's failures.
+I think Pence mostly came up short on term 2 improvements.
Pence has had a strong night.
Do you think that was universally felt? I personally felt he took the more polite DJT approach of going over time, tone was so overtly condescending and I felt like I was being gaslighted the whole time. Is this because I’m a young female Dem? Or did other demographics feel that too? And I can’t get over that he didn’t answer the abortion question!!
Do explain. I felt like he was repetitive and obstinate.
Maybe this is simply a contrast to Trump but he was calm, polite, looked at the camera and had a clear agenda. Even his attacks on Harris seemed reasonable - he didn't get worked up and call her any names and kept a level voice. At times I felt Harris was condescending.
I mean, that's about as low-bar as it gets....
Agreed. :)
Really crucial section there on SCOTUS/life/religious freedom.
Harris doing a good job of absorbing the heat and taking the hits, and keeping Biden pretty unscathed.
Don't miss that Pence's disposition, his aim, is all about closing the gap with seniors.
...interested in folks thoughts so far.
It's nice to have people (mostly) talking one at a time...
It seems to me that Harris picking on the decisions of the Trump and his administration during an unknown time is shallow. Sure, there was no clear, cohesive strategy - and there still isn't, but questioning the decisions in the early stages of the pandemics rings hollow.
https://twitter.com/MichaelRWear/status/1313985219838578694?s=20
I feel like Kamala could’ve gone into how, even if the Breonna Taylor decision was right legally, it was not moral or just, which is the entire reason why there needs to be systemic change in law enforcement. Why did she shift so quickly to Floyd?
Pence’s response was that he was surprised that, as a prosecutor, she didn’t accept the decision of a grand jury. If she argued the decision was lawful but unjust, it would’ve been a perfect segueu to systemic injustice written into the law
Too much nuance for the American public :)
Very good point.
"I will not be lectured on my record..." doesn't mean your record is good.
Yeah, the police officers were very reckless but what about the people/system that allowed a no knock raid?
Not to mention the fact there probably wasn’t probable cause to raid her apartment in the first place, whether no-knock or not.
What an 8th grader!
She's not answering this question.
I mean, neither did.
Well, he completely avoided. But I was really hoping to hear from her on this.
Oh, good pivot here from Harris to raise Trump's talk about military members, veterans, heroes
What did y'all think of Pence's election results & peaceful transition answer?
A little uncomfortable that he didn't clearly answer the transfer of power question, but rather fanned suspicion on mail-in ballots.
Yeah, I agree. I think Harris would've liked to have more time to press on that. Maybe challenge Pence to commit to resigning and vacating if they lose and Trump doesn't honor the result.
Pence did great on the last question about debate and argument in our society
What did y'all think of the court-packing exchange?
Wouldn't the Republicans do the same thing if the roles were reversed? Seems like they are arguing about nothing.
Mmmm, yeah, idk, been a lot of ping-ponging nuclear options and Rs have done their fair share for sure.
Do you think Biden & Harris should state directly they'll do it? As a threat or as genuine intent? Too presumptive about a Senate majority?
I vote for a mute button.
I don’t watch many debates, but does the moderator appear to be giving Pence the toughest questions? (or is it just that it’s easy to find tough questions for this administration)
Is Green New Deal an economic stimulus or drag?
Health details or tax returns, if we only get one?
(I'm tax returns)
Bingo! Harris pivots it to tax returns and $750
How do y'all feel about "If Donald Trump tells me to take it, I'm not taking it."?
I mean...if he's the only one telling us...
Yeah, and her line wasn't *quite* clear enough on the *only* part?
I think Pence is tactically right to go back to push on that, even though Harris is correct.
Pence didn’t actually the answer the question of why our percentage is so much higher than other countries...right?
He talked a lot about what they did.
I guess it was a “it could’ve been even worse” argument
I'll be interested to see if Pence gives Republicans a reason to support them beyond MAGA ideology.