VEEP Debate--Who Won?

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Does anybody have an opinion, on who won?

I thought Mike Pence did a good job. I have liked him from the git-go----and, in fact, wish HE was running for POTUS.

My opinion of Tim Kaine, before last night, was that he was a "used car salesman"----and, last night, didn't change my mind.

It's interesting that Mike Pence has, seemingly, the complete opposite personality / temperament / whatever of Donald Trump; and, Tim Kaine has the exact SAME personality, as Hillary.

Pence is probably just suppressing his personality because if he was as controversial as the nominee they'd simply go down in the polls further and start creating headlines from two fronts... and we know someone wants to hog the news for himself. Ultimately, he still has some fundamentalist beliefs.

"He called for "an audit to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus [same-sex relationships]" and instead advocated for resources to be directed toward conversion therapy programs, "[for] those seeking to change their sexual behavior."

"In 2013, Pence signed a law blocking local governments in Indiana from requiring businesses to offer higher wages or benefits beyond those required by federal law. In 2015, Pence also repealed an Indiana law that required construction companies working on publicly funded projects to pay a prevailing wage."

"I believe with all my heart that God created the heavens and the earth, the seas and all that’s in them. How he did that I'll ask him [Trump?] about some day."

"Pence asserted that "condoms are a very, very poor protection against sexually transmitted diseases"

I don't think either one of them did particularly well. Pence could have done more to address Kaine's list of Trump's ill chosen remarks. Also Pence's jacket did not fit him well. Kaine did better in the second half, but his interrupting and general over excitement was a bit unseemly.

The fact that an individual whose extreme Conservative views are so out of touch with current public opinion managed to avoid getting on the defensive wrt. to his political positions is in itself a victory for Mike Pence...

I think Tim Kaine made a mistake in assuming that he could match the rhetorical prowess of someone who has previously been a talk-show host...

But who knows: Perhaps Trump will dump Pence now in an egotistical fit since his VP pick appears more presidential than himself... (and has a better haircut)...

And the winner was.....

Pence did okay, I don't think he debated that well on substance and I didn't like his answers on some things plus it's clear he isn't an ideological twin of Trump but the VP doesn't have to be. In recent years we've had much more influential VPs but they really only serve a few functions; the most important of which is the ability to step in as president if the need arises, to break ties in the senate, and to bring factions together under one ticket. Pence is very popular in conservative circles, he's someone Republicans like and trust so having Pence on the ticket goes a ways in attracting and reassuring conservatives. Pence contrasts himself with Trump very well, people who hate Trump's style would probably like Pence's.(not talking about policy) Pence used his cadence and body language(looking & speaking towards the camera) very well I think, he looked like the adult and pulled off the look of somebody presidential which is the most important thing you can do in this debate.

Kaine made a fool of himself in the debate with the strategy he decided to pursue, he interrupted Pence 72 times while he spoke and would change the subject constantly to whatever attack he wanted to make on Trump instead of the question asked of him. He appeared nervous, spoke too fast, was almost robotic in the way he kept repeating the same lines. He's not as good looking as Pence and his body language/facial expressions were bad when he wasn't interrupting, he just did not come across of likable. I think Democrats thought being condescending and smug was a good way of debating but it's more specific to the person and who they're debating, that might work for people like Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton but it didn't for Tim Kaine. I never really heard the guy speak before and he's pretty popular guy on Capitol Hill on both sides of the aisle and perhaps this wasn't his real personality thus why it seemed so contrived/rehearsed. Kaine probably would of come off a lot better if he actually tried to make a case for Hillary instead of attacking Trump with every answer, he should of been a lot more cordial and respectful in order to establish some likability. I guess that's what the focus groups said to do, Hillary people will say that Trump acts the same way in debates but I don't agree with that but regardless Trump is the only Trump and you shouldn't try out-Trump him because you can't win. Kaine is a loyal Clinton solider but I don't think he benefits the ticket at all, I don't think he has cross over appeal or is popular with the Democratic base.

The format and the moderator again were terrible, it seemed like Kaine's mic was louder too but maybe he's just a much louder speak I don't know. The moderator seemed a lot more inclined to interrupt Pence than she was Kaine even tho he wouldn't shut up for 2 seconds, there was at one point a question asked to Tim Kaine that she didn't go to Pence who had to ask if he could answer that question to which she replied "ugh... I guess... you have 20 seconds..."

Yeah, this is one of the reasons I like Pence, so much. There's lots of men and women in this country, but not NEARLY as many ladies and gentlemen. I know I'm really "old school", in this regard, but I don't want to change that part of myself.

Indeed...

Let's forget that Mike Pence is championing life-threatening "gay conversion therapy" and was instrumental in *creating* the Indiana HIV epidemic... After all, he is *polite*...

I don't like what Pence said about abortion last night:



He talks about being born into the world like it's a good thing.

I don't think Republicans take life seriously at all; if they did they would take bringing a child into the world more seriously.

pence reminded me of the general assholiness of spiro t. agnew. basically he's an attack dog. I despise him.

Unfortunately, it appears that Pence was able to win this debate by simply saying silent when it was not his turn to be speak (he got even with Kaine on several occasions but it was clear he was only doing it to balance out the amount of speaking time he could have). Kaine really needed to shut up. I don't know what these campaign managers are telling him and Hillary to do but they are sucking at it. Clinton should be way ahead of Trump. It's pathetic that this is so close. I absolutely despise Trump but I still think Pence did a better job in this debate.

The only good thing Pence did was not support Trump. It's so obvious that he can't defend Trump's idiotic statements. So of course he doesn't. And this is why he won the debate - he didn't defend Trump. Pathetic, isn't it? Even Pence doesn't want to see Trump as the president.

Ultimately I would say that Tim Kaine won the VP debate by presenting the stronger argument but Mike Pence came across as the more likable and charismatic of the two. I say this because Mike Pence really failed to defend Donald Trump and on issues such as Russia and Vladimir Putin he ended up actually distancing himself from Trump when what he should have been doing in defending his ticket.

"likeable?"

Well yes Mike Pence really contrasted with his opponent he came cross as polite, respectful calm and respectful where Tim Kaine was loud and interrupting. At the end of the debate in particular I think he came across as being likable as by talking about himself being pro choice he was able to show himself as someone who cares for human life, even if you did not like Mike Pence you could see where he was coming from and respect his convictions.

Someone who cares for human life would not force women to bring children into the world. A woman's body deserves the respect of any human. Anti-abortionism is a fundamental disrespect for a human's right to control their own body.

Also, the phrase "whipped out that Mexican thing," was ill chosen.

repeatedly saying Trump called Mexicans 'rapists and murderers' is one of those big lies you guys seem to keen to bring up