TAMPA, Fla. — There’s a main consensus from Vice Presidential watch parties across the Bay area Wednesday: This debate had a much more civil tone.
Wednesday’s debate between Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris was filled with less interruption and much more policy talk than last week’s raucous presidential debate.
Backers of President Trump gathered at the Tampa Tap Room said Vice President Mike Pence did a great job but reserved criticism for questions not asked.
What You Need To Know
- Viewers turned out at Bay area VP debate watch parties
- Most watchers agree this debate had a more civil tone
- WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Pence and Harris Square Off in Respectful Debate
Brian Pitts said he felt the tone from Moderator Susan Page skewed negative toward the Trump-Pence ticket.
"There wasn’t any kind of questions in regards Antifa or Black Lives Matter or protests or looting, with respects to how they perceived that," Pitts said.
Norm Haley, owner of the Tampa Tap Room, said this was a much better event to watch.
“It was a lot better debate than the previous one,” Haley said. “I think it was a little bit more organized.
“But at the same time I don’t think that a lot of the questions were answered properly.”
Debate watcher Athena Kern said she felt the debate was much more ‘polished’ and ‘coherent’ than last week’s presidential debate between President Trump and challenger Joe Biden.
“Both candidates were a lot more well spoken,” Kern said. “(They) respected the time limits of the moderator, I think they both did particularly well.”
One thing that may not be up for debate is that the American people were the biggest winners in Wednesday night’s Vice Presidential debate.
“I think they came away with a professional debate,” said Pinellas County Black Democratic Caucus Chair Trevor Mallory. “They came away with all the facts. A lot of positive facts.”
Local Democrats celebrated Harris’ performance, saying that she brought her "A game" to the stage and walked away the winner.
“Because she’s spoke the facts," said Biden campaign director for Central Florida Vito Sheeley, “She was being truthful about what’s impacting our country right now and she showing that she is a leader.”
The question now is whether either candidate did anything to impact the electorate.