Key exchanges from the U.S. vice-presidential debate
Zingers, one-liners and strategic responses from Harris and Pence
The U.S. vice-presidential debate between Republican Mike Pence and Democratic challenger Sen. Kamala Harris Wednesday night was dominated early on by a pointed back-and-forth over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pence defended the Trump administration's approach to the coronavirus outbreak, while Harris criticized from the other side of a plexiglass barrier erected to keep the candidates safe.
Here are some key takeaways from the only vice-presidential debate before the U.S. election on Nov. 3.
The first volley
Harris, in her earliest remarks, called the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the United States "the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country."
On the economy
Pence repeatedly warned that a Joe Biden administration would immediately raise taxes even though the United States is still digging out from the economic problems brought on by the pandemic.
The need for transparency on taxes
Harris made sure to mention Trump's tax record. The New York Times recently reported the president paid no income taxes for 10 of 15 years.
"We now know because of great investigative journalism that Donald Trump paid $750 in taxes," Harris said, referring to 2016, his first year in the White House. She went on to mention he is now $400 million in debt.
"It'd be really good to know who the president of the United States, the commander in chief, owes money to, because the American people have a right to know what is influencing the president's decisions."
Would Harris take a COVID-19 vaccine?
Responding to a question about the proportion of Americans who say they would not take a vaccine for COVID-19, Harris expressed reservations about taking one approved by the Trump administration.
"If the doctors tell us that we should take it. I'll be the first in line to take it. Absolutely," she said. "But if Donald Trump tells us that we should take it, I'm not taking it."
Addressing the White House 'superspreader' event
Moderator Susan Page asked Pence how he can expect Americans to follow public health guidelines when the Trump administration does not. She specifically referred to an event in the Rose Garden that is believed by many to be the cause of the current cluster of cases at the White House.
"How can you expect Americans to follow the administration's safety guidelines to protect themselves from COVID when you at the White House have not been doing so?" Page asked.
Pence pointed out the Rose Garden event was outdoors. "The difference here is President Trump and I trust the American people to make choices in the best interests of of their health," Pence said.
The Supreme Court
Citing the history of Supreme Court vacancies during elections, Pence went after Harris about whether she and Biden would "pack the Supreme Court" — that is, add and fill more seats beyond the current nine — "to get your way" if Republican nominee Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed.
"I'm so glad we went through a little history lesson. Let's do that a little more," Harris said as she prepared to answer.
When Pence proceeded to interrupt her, Harris turned to him and said: "Mr. Vice-President, I'm speaking. I'm speaking."
On white supremacy
As the conversation moved on to the shooting of Breonna Taylor, Harris called out Trump for refusing to denounce white supremacy during last week's presidential debate. "Not true. Not true," Pence said as Harris spoke.
