Harris, Pence clash over Trump's virus response at VP debate

SALT LAKE CITY: United States Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic challenger Kamala Harris clashed over the Trump administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic during their debate.

The policy-heavy debate stood in stark contrast to last week’s chaotic presidential debate between Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, marred by Trump’s constant interruptions and personal insults.

Harris went after Trump’s record on healthcare and the economy to climate change and foreign policy, while Pence defended the Republican administration’s nearly four-year-old record.

“The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country,” Harris said as the debate began at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

In response, Pence blamed China for the pandemic and touted the US administration’s efforts to battle the disease, including Trump’s decision in late January to restrict travel from the pandemic’s epicentre in China.

“I want the American people to know that from the very first day, President Donald Trump has put the health of America first,” he said. “China is to blame for the coronavirus, and President Trump is not happy about it,” he added.

Pence was questioned about the administration’s White House event last month announcing Trump’s latest Supreme Court nomination.The vice president noted that the event was outdoors before criticising Harris and Biden for not respecting people’s freedom to make their own choices on health.

The two candidates were separated by 12 feet and plexiglass shields. Harris faulted the Trump administration for trying to invalidate the Affordable Care Act (ACA) healthcare law in the midst of a pandemic and assailing Trump for reportedly paying $750 a year in federal income taxes as president.

She also warned that the Trump administration’s challenge to the ACA would enable insurance companies to deny coverage to patients with pre-existing conditions. Pence called the ACA, popularly known as Obamacare, a “disaster.”

Pence sought to counter Harris’s attacks by turning the focus to the economy and tax policy. The vice president also asserted that Biden would ban fracking and embrace the Green New Deal, a massive environmental proposal backed by liberal Democrats.

When asked about a potential vaccine, Harris said she would only trust the word of scientists, rather than Trump, who has promoted unproven treatments in the past. Pence fired back, accusing Harris of undermining public confidence in vaccines.

Harris, the first Black woman to serve on a major-party presidential ticket, also attacked Pence on race relations, criticising Trump for turning down an opportunity to denounce white supremacists at last week’s debate with Biden. In response, Pence accused the media of taking Trump’s words out of context and said the president had repeatedly disavowed racist groups.