US Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic Senator Kamala Harris, who is running for office, clashed Wednesday, October 7 on the management of Covid-19 during a debate with the stakes increased tenfold by questions about age and the shape of Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
“Americans have witnessed what is the biggest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country”, launched the 55-year-old Democratic senator, who would be the first woman to become vice-president of the United States in the event of victory of Joe Biden on November 3. “President Donald Trump did what no other American president has ever done”, replied Mr. Pence, 61, highlighting in particular the decision to close the borders with China.
He accused Mme Harris from “Undermine trust” Americans in a vaccine currently in the works – while Democrats accuse the White House of wanting to bypass procedures to have a vaccine ready before the ballot.
Eight days after the first face-to-face between the Republican President, 74, and his Democratic opponent, 77, who had turned into verbal fist fight, the duel between the running mates gave rise to exchanges on the merits, more posed , although firm. Without bringing out an apparent winner.
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Courteous exchanges
Being courteous, Mr. Pence, a trained lawyer with civilized manners who contrasts with the colorful personality of Mr. Trump, even “Congratulated” Mme Harris, daughter of a Jamaican father and Indian mother, for his candidacy “Historical”, as the first black running mate on behalf of a big party.
The only debate between running mates has taken on even more importance since Mr. Trump was hospitalized for three days after contracting Covid-19. And since Mr. Biden, posing as the unifier of a divided America, has further widened his lead in the polls. The vice-president is in fact called upon to replace the president of the United States in the event of death or incapacity.
The pandemic has spread onto the television debate set in Salt Lake City, Utah. Plexiglas walls had been installed to separate the current vice-president and the senator, seated behind desks 4 meters away.
During the abrasive debate of September 29 between MM. Trump and Biden, relatives of the president had removed their masks, despite instructions.
Make China Pay
Less than three days later, the ex-real estate mogul announced his diagnosis. Mr. Biden, who displays a scrupulous respect for barrier gestures, has been diagnosed negative four times since. Wednesday, moderator Susan Page, of the USA Today, reaffirmed that wearing a mask was compulsory for spectators, who are also very few in number.
Former prosecutor used to sharp indictments, Mme Harris blamed his opponent for the death toll of more than 210,000 which makes the United States the country most bereaved by the pandemic.
Mr. Pence has been in charge of the White House crisis unit in charge of fighting the coronavirus since February. He once again thrown the blame on China, promising to make him ” accountable “.
The outgoing vice-president tried more generally to defend the record of four years in office alongside the stormy billionaire.
Politics for the richest?
Mme Harris has thus contrasted what she considers to be the economic successes of Mr. Biden as Vice President of Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017 to the policies of the Trump-Pence duo, whose term ends in “A recession that is compared to the Great Depression”. And she accused the Republican billionaire of leading a policy favorable to the richest. “From day one, Mr. Biden will raise your taxes”, replied Mr. Pence.
Refusing to “To receive lessons” of her opponent, the senator also defended Obamacare, the health insurance law that the Republican administration wants to get rid of.
Fervent Christian close to the ultraconservative current, Mr. Pence put forward his positions “Pro-life” by reproaching his opponents for supporting “Late abortion” reimbursed “By the taxpayer”. These great social issues have been in the spotlight since Mr. Trump appointed a Supreme Court judge in September who would bolster the conservative majority in this key jurisdiction. Democrats are calling on the Senate not to vote on this nomination before the election.
“Friend-friend with the dictators”
Mr. Pence urged Mme Harris if her camp would try to increase the number of judges in the high court if she wins, but the candidate refused to answer.
The Democratic senator, for her part, attacked with virulence the foreign policy of the government, a subject which had not been addressed during the first debate between the septuagenarian candidates. “What we have seen with Donald Trump is that he betrayed our friends and made friends with dictators across the planet”, she asserted.
Confined to the White House, the president commented on the debate in a Tweet: “Mike Pence is doing very well! She’s a blundering machine. “
Mike Pence WON BIG!
