The VP Debate -- Kamala Harris and the Empty Podium

The coming debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence will take on a far more significant meaning that any VP debate in our lifetimes. Both candidates for President are in their mid 70's, and whichever wins will enter office as the oldest President in our history. The presidency is a difficult and exhausting job in the best of times; in the coming four years, it would likely test a pro athlete.

That said, I'm puzzled by what to expect from Mike Pence. For four years, I've had virtually no clue as to his personal opinions, his philosophies of leadership or his priorities. The vast majority of what I've heard from him is a bowing and scraping in the direction of Trump, a style that initiates every comment or speech with a statement of obedience and reverence. To envision him sitting in the chair that Trump occupies is impossible... it feels as if he would serve the country from a nearby lesser seat, leaving a rose on Trump's chair as a permanent tribute.

On the other side, Kamala Harris has a robust and separate identity from Biden, one forged in a meaningful way through her time in the Senate and before. Her facing off with Biden in the debates, and her lack of apology for that later, speak well of her independence and personal strengths. It also provides some direct evidence of her priorities and views.

The presidential election appears almost entirely as a referendum on Trump, and the direction that he's chosen for America. The lines are drawn fairly clearly, and represented by the dwindling number of voters who are undecided. The issue of vice president appears to be a reverse: the identification of your comfort level with Kamala Harris should a tragedy befall Biden, and a Mike Pence who is invisible and irrelevant. You could easily imagine Harris confronting Biden on a policy disagreement, and speaking her piece... can you imagine a similar confrontation between Pence and Trump, at least without suppressing a laugh?

Pence: "President Trump, with your permission, I have some thoughts on your policy decision on North Korea that..."

Trump: "Pence, your face is turning red. You ok?"

Pence: "My thanks for you noticing! It must be the reflection of the light beaming from your countenance. As I was saying, about North Korea..."

Trump: "North Korea loves me. I'm getting love letters every week."

Pence: "As you should, your eminence... but about the policy..."

Trump: "Thanks for the suggestion, Mike. Grab me a diet coke on your way out, won't you?"

Pence: "Of course, sir. Thank you for your time."

In American political history, there has never been a person occupying as high an office with as subservient a posture and irrelevance in leading as Pence.

The debate should be fascinating, an opportunity for Pence to represent himself for the first time in four years. Let's watch and see if he can pull that off, or if his answers are all pass throughs to his boss.

I'm betting that we hear more Trumps than I's, but we'll know tomorrow.