First and last vice-presidential debate for the 2020 election: Harris vs Pence

The one and only vice-presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence took place last night in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Heated comments and discussions of COVID-19, racial tensions, the justice system and climate change were brought up during the 90-minute debate ahead of the November 2020 presidential election.

The candidates were both seated in the auditorium of the University of Utah, several feet apart and surrounded by see-through barriers. While this may have been a drastic change and a more civil exchange compared to the first presidential debate last week, other rules included compulsory mask-wearing measures for audiences and entourage.

Harris stated that the Trump-Pence administration's handling of the coronavirus crisis was the “greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country”.

Referencing President Donald Trump's interview with Bob Woodward about the pandemic, the California senator said: “They knew, and they covered it up.”

Vice-president Pence responded to this stating that he acknowledged the "challenging time" that the nation had experienced but he added: “I want the American people to know, from the very first day, President Trump has put the health of America first,”

Harris retorted to this, saying: “Clearly it hasn’t worked, when you’re looking at over 210,000 dead bodies in our country,”

The candidates also discussed whether justice for Breonna Taylor was reached by law enforcement. Harris disagreed as the officers involved with the 26-year-old's killing, had not had charges brought against them.

Pence, while extending his sympathies towards Taylor's family, disagreed with Harris' stance, stating that: “I trust our justice system, a grand jury that reviews the evidence.”

The climate crisis was another big topic up for discussion. Pence maintained that he was proud of the government's environmental record. Harris stated that unlike the Trump-Pence administration, Biden "believes in science" and said that the former vice-president to Barack Obama had plans to create many new renewable energy jobs.

Each side of the presidential race thought that their candidates performed well on their behalf.

The next presidential debate is due to take place on the 15th of October, however concerns over the format of this second out of three debates have grown since President Trump's recent positive case of coronavirus with the First Lady, Melania.

Today, Mr Trump commented on discussions of a virtual debate as "not acceptable".