USA TODAY International Edition
Other Views: The debate wasn’t a ‘ no- fly’ zone
Jill Lawrence, USA TODAY
“Vice President Mike Pence left me cold, and I found Sen. Kamala Harris impressive from the start. To me the vice presidential debate could have ended with her first answer — when she said Pence and President Donald Trump had forfeited their right to be reelected because of their tragic, disastrous failure on COVID- 19.”
David Mastio, USA TODAY:
“I don’t know how you could have been impressed with Harris. She completely failed to explain how completely abnormal the Trump administration has been. It was like she was having a debate with a regular Republican instead of the gray- haired handmaid for insanity. You are right that Pence was cold. He was so deadly still that a fly landed on his head and cuddled in for the night.”
Ellis Cose, USA TODAY:
“Both the vice president and Democratic nominee suffered from a tendency to retreat into talking points, rather than answer questions, although Pence was much clumsier at it. With all the polls going against the president, Pence had the biggest challenge, and he simply didn’t have a good story to tell. It’s difficult to spin an out- of- control pandemic, a collapsed economy, a decline in international standing and an apparent indifference to suffering.”
James Robbins, USA TODAY:
“Harris’ attempt to duck the courtpacking issue by saying the administration is already packing the federal judiciary with conservatives is actually a Trump campaign talking point. Pence’s heartfelt closing comments about Americans coming together were strong, especially when he invoked the Antonin Scalia- Ruth Bader Ginsburg friendship as symbolizing hope that the American people can overcome their political divisions.”
Donna Brazile, USA TODAY:
“Who won? Sen. Harris, who spoke directly, empathetically and truthfully to the American people about the challenges we are facing every day in these unprecedented times. ... Our health. Our climate. ... Our taxes. Our leadership in the world. Our democracy and the integrity of this election.”
Christian Schneider, USA TODAY:
“The debate was about as ordinary as it gets. Granted, it took place just days after Trump behaved like a wolverine eating bath salts ... so the civility bar was inordinately low. ... It was a debate about substance taking place in a campaign entirely about style. ... It was as if America had entered a time portal where people actually cared about taxes, spending and health care and didn’t have to worry about the president killing his own staff with a deadly virus.”