Upside down ticket? Debate makes you wonder who best candidates really are

At times during the vice presidential debate you couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have Tim Kaine and Mike Pence at the top of the ticket instead of the undercard.

Both vice presidential candidates showed poise and preparedness in their showdown Tuesday night.

Pence seemed more prepared and detailed in his answers than Trump did a week ago in his debate with Hillary Clinton. Made you think about Pence's future as a presidential candidate himself, maybe four years from now.

And Kaine stepped out of his usually even keel role to be Clinton's attack dog, scoring points with his unrelenting criticism of Trump, which Pence often sidestepped or ignored.

Republicans are hoping Pence's performance will shore up the GOP campaign at a crucial moment. Democrats hope Kaine's attacks will underline Trump's weak spots. Both men got national exposure they haven't had before, and it showed them to be capable candidates on their own. Plus, they don't carry the baggage their running mates do.

Published in Editorials on October 5, 2016 10:04 AM