Boosting morale for the GOP after the first debate, Republican Governor Mike Pence won the recent Vice-Presidential debate at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia against Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia. Throughout the discussion, over his opponent’s continuous attacks and interruptions, Pence retained his poise and composure, which greatly contributed to the debate results. Though Pence has rallied the GOP supporters for the upcoming November election, his performance has yet to convince voters sitting on the fence to vote for presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Aside from the recap of their respective platforms, the discussion was dominated by Kaine’s aggressive attacks against Pence’s running mate, coupled with moderator Elaine Quijano’s constant interruptions. Contrary to his running mate Hillary Clinton, Kaine ran a very confrontational front, again and again returning to Trump’s twitter updates and campaign quotes: Mexicans are rapists and criminals, Women are disgusting, McCain isn’t a hero because he had been captured, along with many others. Despite the many ad hominem fallacies put forth by Kaine, Pence had defended his running mate arguably well. However, it is in Trump’s hands to bring undecided voters to his cause.

A complete reversal from the first, the second debate reverses the roles to balance the personalities of the individual parties. In the previous Presidential debate between the candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Clinton pulled a calm and “presidential” presence whereas Trump drew into altercations with the moderator Lester Holt. Though some news stations argue that the two are held to different standards--Clinton for her political experience and Trump for his blatant honesty--to convince the fence voters, Trump will have to appeal and pull together a persona that can show the people that he is qualified to be United States’ next president. This would mean professionalism, a respectable public display, not a show of lewd conversations. This means an accurate and verifiable campaign, not a spoken political platform that contradicts his official plan. In this way, the final Presidential debate is crucial to Trump and also to Clinton, who too must prove to the Anti-Trump voters. All in all, the next debate will be a wildcard and a keypoint in the 2016 election.

<Lyndsay Song La Canada High School 12th Grade>