8 October 2020 — 0703 mdt

Notes on Harris v. Pence

After a few minutes, after Kamela Harris used the phrase “here’s the thing” (her annoying variation of Biden’s annoying “here’s the deal”), I turned off the debate. I read the transcript later.

The candidates debated in Utah, sitting at tables four meters apart because of Pence’s recent exposure to the SARS Cov2 virus. Holding it in person was reckless. It should have been held virtually, with the candidates and moderator in separate studios. The third Kennedy-Nixon debate, held 13 October 1960, with Kennedy in New York City, Nixon in Los Angeles.

The debate’s tone was more civil than the 29 September Biden-Trump debate. Seating the candidates at tables helped; people are less aggressive sitting than standing. So did Trump’s absence.

For Harris, winning required proving she could hold her own with Pence. She did that, and according to a CNN post debate poll, won on points. Whether she persuaded any undecideds or weak Trump voters to support Biden is another question, but she didn’t cost Biden any votes.

Pence, sounding hoarse, defended Trump, and himself, with vigor and lies, especially lies on health care and the coronavirus (see the Washington Post’s fact check). He did enough to help Trump hold his base, but probably not enough to reel in some undecideds or to persuade Biden supporters to defect to Trump.

Will the debate affect elections in Montana? Probably not much.