Calm, disciplined, and tight. Four years ago at Virginia’s Longwood University, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence demonstrated his debate chops and helped rebalance President Trump’s awkwardly flailing campaign.
While Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine unloaded reams of opposition research on everything from abortion to Trump’s taxes in a scattershot approach, Pence parried and pivoted his way through the chaotic 90-minute confrontation.
It earned him the victory, according to most observers, and in doing so, he demonstrated the skills and loyalty that explained why Trump selected him as his running mate.
If there was one exchange that reveals how Pence survived the night and the past four years — and perhaps offers a guide to Wednesday’s debate with California Sen. Kamala Harris in Salt Lake City, Utah — it came when Kaine tried to exploit questions about Trump’s taxes.
When Pence was asked why the businessman had broken with 40 years of precedent, he first tried to change the subject. When moderator Elaine Quijano forced him back on track, he moved to the defense we still hear today.
“He actually built a business,” Pence said. “He faced some pretty tough times 20 years ago.”
Pence continued, “His tax returns — that showed he went through a very difficult time, but he used the tax code just the way it’s supposed to be used. And he did it brilliantly.”
It could have been the most difficult moment of the night, but Pence kept his cool and kept moving.
At other times he just pivoted to a punch. So when Kaine produced an extended list of Trump’s barbs and insults, including criticism of the late Sen. John McCain’s war record, the unfounded claim that former President Barack Obama was not born in America, that Mexicans were sending rapists over the border, and so on, Pence avoided taking the bait and getting bogged down.
“To be honest with you, if Donald Trump had said all the things that you said he said in the way you said he said them, he still wouldn’t have a fraction of the insults that Hillary Clinton leveled when she said that half of our supporters were a basket of deplorables,” Pence said, warming to his theme.
Pence spent a chunk of the 1990s honing his presentation and political skills as a radio talk show host. And it showed.
While his opponent’s rhetoric heated up through the night, Pence remained unflappable.
It was just what the Trump campaign needed after a poor first presidential debate filled with blunders and followed by negative headlines.
Much as he has done in the four years since, it was Pence who stopped the skid and reset the course.
