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Tags: vice president | mike pence | plexiglass | barriers | debate | commission

Pence Team Rejects Plexiglass Barrier at VP Debate

mike pence signals as if to say hold up at the 2016 vide presidential debate
Vice President Mike Pence (Patrick Semansky/AP)

By    |   Tuesday, 06 October 2020 05:19 PM EDT

Vice President Mike Pence's team objects to the use of plexiglass dividers at Wednesday night's vice-presidential debate in Utah, reports The New York Times.

The Commission on Presidential Debates on Monday announced the use of barriers, a move supported by Sen. Harris, D-Calif.

"We don't think it's needed," Marc Short, Mr. Pence's chief of staff, told the Times.

"There's no science to support it. The tables are 12 feet apart and each participant is tested. It's important for the American people that the debate go forward, and if she's more comfortable with plexiglass then that's fine."

Harris was on board with the safeguards.

"Sen. Harris will be at the debate, respecting the protections that the Cleveland Clinic has put in place to promote safety for all concerned," Sabrina Singh, a spokeswoman for Harris, told the news outlet.

"If the Trump administration's war on masks has now become a war on safety shields, that tells you everything you need to know about why their COVID response is a failure."

Pence has repeatedly tested negative for the novel coronavirus after President Donald Trump tested positive last Thursday.

The commission is also requiring daily COVID-19 testing at the debate and the use of face masks and social distancing at all times.

Solange Reyner

Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


US
Vice President Mike Pence's team objects to the use of plexiglass dividers at Wednesday night's vice-presidential debate in Utah, reports The New York Times.
vice president, mike pence, plexiglass, barriers, debate, commission
209
2020-19-06
Tuesday, 06 October 2020 05:19 PM
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