Vice-presidential debates seldom shake up presidential races, and the face-off between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence on Wednesday night seems destined to be no different.
Both candidates had strong moments, and a few stumbles, over the course of the 90-minute affair. But as far as lasting memories go, they were few and far between.
If this was a match that showcased the futures of the Democratic and Republican parties, the real fireworks will have to wait for the coming years.
An unmemorable result, in and of itself, is good news for the Democrats and Joe Biden, who polls suggest are leading in the race. One more campaign set-piece in the books, and one step closer to election day. These are my takeaways from the debate.
A very different tone from last week
The lasting memories from last week’s presidential debate are probably ones of tone and demeanour – Donald Trump’s constant interruptions and Biden’s occasional “will you shut up” flashes of temper.
Both vice-presidential candidates clearly had this in mind as they sat down behind their plexiglass-protected tables.
Pence’s typically calm and methodical style served as a steady counterpoint to Trump’s earlier aggression. On the occasions when he did interrupt, however, Harris was ready.
“Mr Vice-President, I’m speaking,” she said. “If you don’t mind letting me finish, then we can have a conversation.”
Given the dynamic of the debate – a white man interrupting the first black woman vice-presidential candidate – those were fraught moments for Pence, where the normally placid Midwesterner risked seeming rude.
What’s more, Pence had no qualms steamrolling moderator Susan Page – and given that women voters have turned sharply against the Trump-Pence ticket, the extra speaking time he gained may have come at a political price.
The format, and the candidates’ reluctance to aggressively press each other, ensured that the evening would shed little new light on either side’s positions or reveal how either candidate performed under pressure.
Harris fails to exploit virus weakness
Not surprisingly, the coronavirus pandemic was the opening topic of the debate – and not surprisingly, Harris spent most of her time on the attack. Pence, on the other hand, focused mostly on the defence.
Harris’s sharpest line was to cite statistics – 210,000 Americans dead – and charge the Trump administration with “ineptitude” and “incompetence”.
Pence had his response ready. He said the Biden-Harris plan was largely a copy of what the Trump administration was already doing, boasted about speedy progress on a vaccine and treated criticism of his administration as an attack on first-responders and US healthcare workers.
Surprisingly, neither candidate spent much time on the fact that the White House itself has become the latest coronavirus hotspot. An obvious line of attack for Harris was left unexploited and the conversation soon shifted to other subjects. Given that polls suggest handling of the virus is the Trump campaign’s greatest weakness, a draw on the topic is success for Pence.