Watch live: Mike Pence and Kamala Harris face off in US vice-presidential debate

The debate in Salt Lake City is the most highly anticipated vice-presidential debate in recent memory

Pence and Harris are separated by a Plexiglas shield meant to reduce the risk of virus transmission

1-MIN READ1-MIN

Senator Kamala Harris and US Vice President Mike Pence debate. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:56am, 8 Oct 2020Updated: 9:23am, 8 Oct 2020

US Vice-President Mike Pence and his Democratic challenger, California Senator Kamala Harris, are facing off in their first and only debate less than a month before the US election, with coronavirus adding a sudden twist to the event.

The showdown between vice-presidential candidates is more often a sideshow of US presidential elections, but this year the encounter between President Donald Trump’s and Democrat Joe Biden’s running mates takes on far greater significance with the economy staggered by the pandemic.

The virus hit home for the Republican ticket over the past week with Trump and a widening circle of his aides testing positive for the virus and the president eventually landing in a military hospital for three days.

The debate is an opportunity for the American public to gauge whether Pence, 61, is ready to take over for the president. The debate will be a showcase as well for Harris, 55.

Even before coronavirus swept across the United States, there were questions about the age of the candidates. Trump is 74 and Biden is 77, and either of them would be the oldest president in US history if inaugurated.

The Commission on Presidential Debates announced several measures intended to mitigate the risk of infection from coronavirus. Although the candidates are not wear masks on stage, they are placed more than 3.5 metres (12 feet) apart. Plexiglas barriers have been placed between the candidates, and the candidates and moderator Susan Page of USA Today. The Pence team had initially balked at allowing a divider next to him but agreed just before he debate.

The debate, from 9pm Eastern time (9am Hong Kong time), lasts 90 minutes and is divided into nine 10-minute segments.