Key exchanges from the U.S. vice-presidential debate

The U.S. vice-presidential debate between Republican Mike Pence and Democratic challenger Sen.Kamala Harris Wednesday night was dominated early on by a pointed back-and-forth over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pence defended the Trump administration's approach to the coronavirus outbreak, while Harris criticized from the other side of a plexiglassbarrier erected to keep the candidates safe.

Here are some key takeaways from the only vice-presidential debate before the U.S. election on Nov. 3.

The first volley

Harris, in her earliest remarks, called the effects of theCOVID-19 pandemic on the United States "the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country."

'The greatest failure'

4 years ago

Duration 2:07

U.S. Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris declares the coronavirus response has been 'the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country' during the VP debate Wednesday.

On the economy

Pence repeatedly warned that a Joe Biden administration would immediately raise taxeseven though the United States is still digging out from the economicproblems brought on by the pandemic.

Pence paints Biden/Harris as bad for the economy

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Duration 1:24

Vice-President Mike Pence returned to the same theme often during the debate, painting a United States under Joe Biden as one where taxes will go up and thousands of jobs will be lost.

The need fortransparency on taxes

Harris made sure to mention Trump's tax record. The New York Times recently reported the president paid no income taxes for 10 of 15 years.

"We now know because of great investigative journalism that Donald Trump paid $750 in taxes," Harris said, referring to 2016, his first year in the White House. She went on to mention he is now $400 million in debt.

"It'd be really good to know who the president of the United States, the commander in chief, owes money to, because the American people have a right to know what is influencing the president's decisions."

Talk about transparency

4 years ago

Duration 1:11

Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris questions whether Donald Trump is making decisions in Americans' best interest or his own.

Would Harris take a COVID-19 vaccine?

Responding to a question about the proportion of Americans who say they would not take a vaccine for COVID-19, Harris expressed reservations about taking one approved by the Trump administration.

"If the doctors tell us that we should take it. I'll be the first in line to take it. Absolutely," she said. "But if Donald Trump tells us that we should take it, I'm not taking it."

Will you take a COVID-19 vaccine?

4 years ago

Duration 0:35

The moderator asks Kamala Harris whether she will take the COVID-19 vaccine. Her response suggests, it depends.

Addressing the White House 'superspreader' event

Moderator Susan Page asked Pence how he can expect Americans to follow public health guidelines when the Trump administration does not. She specifically referred to an event in the Rose Garden that is believed by many to be the cause of the current cluster of cases at the White House.

"How can you expect Americans to follow the administration's safety guidelines to protect themselves from COVIDwhen you at the White House have not been doing so?" Page asked.

Pencepointed out the Rose Garden event was outdoors. "The difference here is President Trump and I trust the American people to make choices in the best interests of of their health," Pence said.

Mike Pence is asked about the Rose Garden 'superspreader' event

4 years ago

Duration 1:49

The moderator of the vice-presidential debate asks Vice-President Mike Pence how he can expect Americans to follow public health guidelines when the Trump administration does not.

The Supreme Court

Citing the history of Supreme Court vacancies during elections, Pence went after Harris about whether she andBiden would "pack the Supreme Court" that is, add and fill more seats beyond the current nine "to get yourway" if Republican nominee Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed.

"I'm so glad we went through a little history lesson. Let's do that a little more," Harris said as she prepared to answer.

When Pence proceeded to interrupt her, Harris turned to him and said: "Mr. Vice-President, I'm speaking. I'm speaking."

The seat on the U.S. Supreme Court

4 years ago

Duration 4:00

Vice-President Mike Pence accuses Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris of wanting to pack the U.S. Supreme Court if the Democrats win the election.

On white supremacy

As the conversation moved on to the shooting of Breonna Taylor, Harris called out Trump for refusing to denounce white supremacy during last week's presidentialdebate. "Not true. Not true," Pence said as Harris spoke.

Harris accuses Trump of not denouncing white supremacy

4 years ago

Duration 0:22

Democratic candidate Kamala Harris calls out U.S. President Donald Trump for not denouncing white supremacy during the presidential debate. 'Not true. Not true,' muttered Vice-President Mike Pence under his breath as Harris spoke.