Kamala Harris, Mike Pence square off at vice presidential debate

And it's a wrap on the first and only Vice-presidential debate. The jury is out on who won this round of the debate. Kamala Harris pulled her punches, and had her moments. But there were times one felt she could have been more aggressive. Kamala perhaps missed out taking up the Trump administration on the outbreak in the White House. Mike Pence, on the other hand, stuck to his debate prep and stuck to the narrative that Donald Trump has been putting across. Pence also didn't come clear on whether the President will accept mandate peacefully.

Pence: We will work every day to give good governance. We always come together in times of need.

Harris: Joe Biden decided to contest after Charlottesville. Joe has been bipartisan. He has a history of fighting for Americans. Future of America is bright, because we fight for every American's vote.

Last subject of the night. The elections itself.

Harris: Joe biden has a deep rooted commitment to building democracy. Vote, please vote early. We have within our power to make the decision on what will be the course of this country. We will not let anyone subvert this democracy. Trump openly attempted to suppress the ballot.

Pence is asked if Trump would accept a peaceful transfer of power

Pence: We will win this election. Americans will see this president's work. We have unleashed American agency. We stand with law enforcement. Democrats have spent the last 3.5 years trying to overthrow the last election. FBI has been investigating how manipulations happened. There was no obstruction. Democrats tried to impeach President over a phone call. Trump will be re-elected for 4 more years. 

On racial discrimination -- perhaps the biggest issue confronting the United States today -- Harris says:

We will ban choke holds.

We will bring police reforms.

We will get rid of private prisons.

We will legalise marijuana.

Pence: There is no excuse for the rioting and violence. Democrats have insulted the men and women in uniform. Bill on police reforms have been blocked by Democrats. We stand with law enforcement. Justice will be served

Both panelists have been questioned on the new Supreme Court judge nominee

Pence: Judge Amy Coney Barrett will get approved. Hope Democrats won't question her faith

Harris counters, says we won't target anyone on the basis of faith. We are 27 days from knowing who would be the next president. Joe has been clear. Let American pick the President and then the SC nominee,

Harris: If they win, 20 million people will lose medical coverage. In 1864, Abe Lincoln was up for re-election. 27 days before that SC vacancy opened up. Lincoln said it won't be right to pick a new nominee then. Joe and Biden believe in the same.

Pence pushes for an answer on whether Democrats will pack the court...
 

Earlier, Harris says the Trump administration's perspective on China has cost jobs, lives and standing.

She says there's a "weird obsession" from Trump with getting rid of accomplishments by Obama and Biden.

She also said that there was a team to deal with pandemics that Trump got rid of.

A charge quickly denied by Pence. "Not true," he says.

He says that Trump renegotiated NAFTA and says that Harris voted against the USMCA, which he called a win for workers and farmers, because it didn't go far enough on climate change.
 

Pence continues: We destroyed the ISIS caliphate. America is safer today. Obama administration gave millions away to the biggest sponsors of terror.

Harris: Trump went to Arlington cemetery and said, 'What's in it for them?' when what he really meant 'What's in it for him?'

Harris says there is failure of leadership in America

Harris: Foreign policy is all about relationships. Got to be loyal to your friends. Trump has betrayed our friends and embraced dictators around the world. American intel said Russia interfered in 2016 polls. But Trump ignored. Trump walked away from Iran nuclear deal. Today, we are less safer. Unilateral apparoach and isolationism has made America unsafe. Trump doesn't understand what it means to be loyal.

Pence: We have stood strongly with allies. We have strengthened alliances in Asia pacific. Trump administration took out ISIS chief Al-Baghdadi

On China, Pence says Beijing and the WHO are to be blamed for Covid-19. 

Harris says: They sent experts to China to monitor situation. Today 210,000 Americans have lost their lives. The trade war led to a loss of 300 million jobs. 

Pence: Our air and water are cleaner than ever. Trump has made the largest investment in this sector in over 100 years. Climate is changing, but what is the cause. Trump has said we will listen to Science. Biden will increase energy costs of American families. The progress we have made is because of a free market economy. We have done it through fracking and natural gas. Forest management must work on Wildfires. 

Harris: We won't ban fracking. Biden thinks about growing jobs. Moody's has said that Biden's plan will vcreate 7 billion more jobs. Gulf states have been battered by storms. Joe believes in science. Trump administration doesn't believe in science. Donald trump once said: 'Science doesn't know'

On the economy, Harris says the health of the economy is based on the health of the worker and the family.

Harris: "On day one Joe Biden will repeal that tax bill, he'll get rid of it, and what he'll do with that money is invest it in the American people."
 

Harris is asked about whether people should take a vaccine developed under the Donald Trump administration.

She says if Dr Fauci and other experts say she will take it.

"But if Donald Trump tells us we should take it, I'm not taking it."

Pence counters, says that if the Swine Flu epidemic in 2009 under the Obama administration had been as deadly as COVID-19, two million Americans would have died.

The candidates are asked about their vice presidency.

Harris recalls the Zoom call from Biden inviting her to be running mate. She says Biden picked her because we share a purpose -- uplifting Americans.

Kamala Harris is accusing the Trump administration of incompetence with regard to handling of the coronavirus issue. 

Pence counters, saying that President's actions bought the U.S. time to reinvest testing and build up a stockpile of supplies, and begin developing medicines and vaccines.

He says Biden's plan reads like what the administration has done every step of the way.

Kamala Harris: President and V-P were informed that the virus is airborne. They were warned of the threat, but they did nothing. This administration has forfeited its right to govern.

Mike Pence: Americans must know that Donald Trump put them first. President suspended all flights from China. Biden opposed it

And it begins... 

Susan Page introduces Kamala Harris and Mike Pence.

Susan clarifies: Candidates haven't been told about any questions

Rules: 6 minutes to be given per issue

The debate will be moderated by Susan Page, the Washington bureau chief of USA Today.

69-year-old Page became a White House correspondent for USA Today in 1995. 

She has interviewed nine presidents -- six of them while they were in the office
 

The only vice-presidential debate comes amid turbulent period for the country with anti-racism protests and Coronavirus cases continue to grow and make headlines. 

More drama ensued with US President Donald Trump himself testing positive for coronavirus, subsequently being hospitalised and then returning to the White House.