GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Vice presidential candidates Mike Pence and Kamala Harris represent “the battle for the soul of America,” according to WMU-Cooley Law Associate Dean Tracey Brame.
She notes the “stark contrast” between the two, especially since the White House has never has a woman of color as a vice president.
This year’s candidates are even more significant than usual because both Donald Trump and Joe Biden are the oldest presidential candidates in U.S. history.
“One of these vice presidential candidates could very well be elected president in 2024,” Brame said. “So it’s a very, very important time in our history as we look at, certainly at what the next four years are going to look like, but as importantly at what our country is going to look like, what our politics are going to look like four years from now. Because that could vary drastically depending on which of these vice presidents is in office.”
In terms of debate styles, Brame says to expect Pence to be confident and to not waver, whereas Harris will have to strike a balance between not looking “like she’s kicking a man while he’s down,” meaning Trump while he’s recovering from COVID-19.
