Alice Stewart is a CNN political commentator, a resident fellow at Harvard University's Institute of Politics and former communications director for Ted Cruz for President. The views expressed in this commentary belong to the author. View more opinion at CNN.
(CNN)As the smoke clears after the first debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, the showdown between their running mates is heating up.
Vice presidential debates are very much the undercard, but it's impossible to overplay the significance of Wednesday night's face-off between Vice President Mike Pence and California Sen. Kamala Harris. Never before has there been a scenario when either presidential candidate could potentially be unable to fulfill a full term — both major candidates are in their 70s. This vice presidential debate will be a job interview unlike any other.
There are always three main goals of any vice presidential debate: do no harm, reinforce the top of the ticket, and pass the commander in chief test. My advice is for the candidates is to keep these objectives top of mind as they take center stage.
Do no harm is pretty simple: don't say anything dumb and don't be insulting. Just look at the most recent presidential debate — the constant interrupting and name-calling was off-putting for many voters, and proved disastrous for Trump as polls showed Biden's lead widening following the debate. The Republican political consultant Frank Luntz said a panel of independent voters found that the two candidates were too bitter, and that the evening didn't provide what they wanted.
Keep in mind that Trump and Biden are not simply trying to appeal to their own base — they're trying to appeal to undecided voters, who make up just 3% of likely voters, according to a Quinnipiac poll from September.
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Therefore, Harris and Pence need to come across as likeable. Likeability matters in debates.
I believe Pence has the upper hand in this regard. He's not a barn burner, but he is solid, calm and reassuring.
Harris can be prone to overdoing it. Who can forget when she went after Biden on his record on civil rights during the Democratic primary debate in June 2019?
While she is known, and often celebrated for her sharp questions and confrontational style, she needs to tone down the grandstanding in this debate.
Kamala Harris faces unique challenges in the VP debate
Both candidates need to reinforce the man at the top of the ticket for their party, remind voters what they are running on and outline their vision for the future of America. Pence needs to make this a choice election of Trump vs. Biden, as opposed to a referendum on the President.
This election needs to be about a choice between limited government, fiscal responsibility and law and order, over bloated government and big spending.
In light of President Trump's recent Covid-19 diagnosis and checking into Walter Reed Medical Center, Pence should pivot away from any questions of the president's handling or mishandling of the pandemic. Pence can focus on the fact that President Trump declared the coronavirus a public health emergency in January and later suspended travel into the US to stop the spread. The President also signed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act into law in March.
Pence needs to make that point, and pivot — fast.
The most important aspect of vice presidential debates is about answering the question: Are you capable of stepping into the role of President of the United States if the need should arise? It's not necessarily about identifying the qualifications for being vice president, it's about having the quality, skills, and temperament to be commander in chief.
With both presidential candidates in their 70s — Trump is 74 and Biden is 77 — this consideration is warranted. Both Pence and Harris need to make the case that their experience and judgment makes them capable of stepping up to the plate.
I believe they both have the necessary experience, but voters need to consider the liberal policies of Harris, including her support of the Green New Deal in the Senate (she now supports Biden's climate plan) and universal health care that includes private insurers). GovTrack, a nonpartisan organization that tracks bills in Congress, named her "the most liberal compared to all Senators."
Her progressive policies — particularly when she was in the Senate and supported Medicare for All and the Green New Deal — failed to win over donors in the Democratic primary, and she dropped out before the Iowa caucuses citing a lack of funds. Though Harris has since moderated her views on health care and the environment, Biden won the Democratic primary, and if something were to happen to him, paving the way for Harris to step up, she might not reflect voters' decision to choose a true centrist over a progressive. Voters need to remember Harris's Senate agenda does not always match that of mainstream America.
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Ultimately, success in the vice presidential debate is based on competency, likeability and connecting on the issues important to voters.
Years of political experience brought these two candidates to center stage, and they have 90 minutes to make their case to the American people. It's imperative both candidates know their goal; without it, it's impossible to score.
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