Takeaways from Harris vs. Pence:
- Kamala Harris erased whatever doubt might have existed that she is ready to be president should Joe Biden not be able to finish his term. She was assertive, knew her facts and arguments cold,was poised and recounted a resume loaded with leadership experience.
- Mike Pence was not as obnoxious and disruptive as his boss was in the first presidential debate, but relied on similar tactics: interruptions, talking past his allotted time, taking personal shots (as in Biden “knows something about plagiarism.”)
- Pence confirmed women voters in their preference for Biden/Harris with this conduct, especially interrupting Harris (women are used to and don’t like this kind of treatment from men, which Harris demonstrated)
- Major problem for me: Harris (like Biden) seemed oblivious to Trump’s openly expressed plan to steal the election if he doesn’t win: declaring the result fraudulent, contesting results in key swing states over mail-in ballots in expectation the conservative Supreme Court majority will hand him the presidency (probably valid, given 2000 Bush v. Gore decision). Democrats need a plan to counter Trump if he refuses to respect the results of the election. Republicans have another plan to steal it: in key swing states with Republican-dominated legislatures, the legislature disregards the popular vote and names Trump electors, another way the election could end up before Supreme Court (and this would be found constitutional.)
Mort—Wish Harris and Susan had pushed for answers to the questions. At the end of the day, this debate probably did not change a single vote. Good news for American and the D’s.
And the old observation—problem with Pence is he reminds women of their first husband.