WEBVTT 00:02.033 --> 00:05.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JUDY WOODRUFF: To debate or not to debate, in-person or not in-person. Those questions 00:07.333 --> 00:10.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% dominated the U.S. presidential campaign this day. President Trump insisted he won't agree 00:12.466 --> 00:16.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to a virtual encounter online, and Joe Biden balked at delaying their debate. 00:17.900 --> 00:20.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% It all came a day after their running mates faced off. 00:20.266 --> 00:22.433 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Amna Nawaz begins our coverage. 00:22.433 --> 00:27.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: With 26 days until Election Day, the Democratic ticket headed to Arizona, where 00:29.933 --> 00:33.833 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% former Vice President Joe Biden took a moment to hail Senator Kamala Harris' debate performance 00:34.600 --> 00:36.666 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% the night before. 00:36.666 --> 00:38.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JOE BIDEN (D), Presidential Candidate: This is one of the finest persons I have ever dealt 00:38.766 --> 00:40.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% with. This is a person who is ready on day one to be the president of the United States 00:43.400 --> 00:45.466 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% of America. 00:45.466 --> 00:47.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% This is a person who has more integrity in their little finger than most people have 00:47.866 --> 00:52.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% in their whole body. And the idea -- it's obvious he cannot -- he has great difficulty 00:52.466 --> 00:54.600 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% dealing with strong women. 00:54.600 --> 00:57.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: Meanwhile, back in Washington, President Trump threw next week's debate with 00:57.633 --> 00:59.733 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% Biden into turmoil. 00:59.733 --> 01:01.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: No, I'm not going to waste my time on a virtual 01:01.800 --> 01:05.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% debate. That's not what debating is all about, you sit behind a computer and do a debate. 01:05.066 --> 01:07.533 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% It's ridiculous. 01:07.533 --> 01:09.566 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: First refusing to take part after the Debate Commission this morning announced 01:09.566 --> 01:14.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% a virtual format to -- quote -- "protect the health and safety of all involved," later 01:14.400 --> 01:18.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% agreeing with a Biden campaign suggestion that the debate be delayed one week, so it 01:18.800 --> 01:20.900 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% could still be held in-person. 01:20.900 --> 01:24.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% In a statement, Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said -- quote -- "We agree that this 01:24.933 --> 01:29.766 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% should happen on October 22, and, accordingly, the third debate should then be shifted back 01:29.766 --> 01:32.500 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% one week to October 29." 01:32.500 --> 01:37.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Biden campaign manager Kate Bedingfield fired back, writing: "Trump's erratic behavior does 01:37.466 --> 01:42.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% not allow him to rewrite the calendar," and insisting the final debate remain on October 01:44.500 --> 01:47.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% 22. "Donald Trump can show up," Bedingfield said, "or he can decline again." 01:47.800 --> 01:52.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% JOE BIDEN: We set the dates. I'm sticking with the dates. I'm showing up. I will be 01:52.666 --> 01:56.066 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% there. And, in fact, if he shows up, fine. If he doesn't, fine. 01:56.066 --> 02:01.033 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% AMNA NAWAZ: In another scheduling shift, this afternoon, ABC News announced it would host 02:02.966 --> 02:06.066 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% a Biden town hall in Philadelphia on October 15, now that the president had backed out 02:06.800 --> 02:08.766 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% of that night's debate. 02:08.766 --> 02:12.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% The back-and-forth on debate planning comes after an intense back-and-forth between the 02:12.466 --> 02:14.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% vice presidential candidates last night. 02:14.500 --> 02:15.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA), Vice Presidential Candidate: No, I -- no, but, Susan, I -- this 02:15.533 --> 02:17.566 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% is important... 02:17.566 --> 02:19.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% MIKE PENCE, Vice President of the United States: Susan, I have to weigh in here. 02:19.033 --> 02:19.966 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% SEN. KAMALA HARRIS: Mr. Vice President, I'm speaking. 02:19.966 --> 02:21.133 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% MIKE PENCE: I have to weigh in. 02:21.133 --> 02:23.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% SEN. KAMALA HARRIS: I'm speaking. 02:23.766 --> 02:26.033 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: In a debate dominated by the pandemic, Senator Harris slammed the White House response, 02:26.033 --> 02:28.066 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% calling it: 02:28.066 --> 02:30.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% SEN. KAMALA HARRIS: The greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history 02:30.733 --> 02:32.800 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% of our country. 02:32.800 --> 02:35.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I want to ask the American people, how calm were you when you were panicked about where 02:35.500 --> 02:39.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% you're going to get your next roll of toilet paper? How calm were you when your kids were 02:39.900 --> 02:42.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% sent home from school and you didn't know when they could go back? 02:42.666 --> 02:46.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: Vice President Pence, the head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, 02:46.633 --> 02:50.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% defended the decision to not create a federally coordinated response. 02:50.233 --> 02:55.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% MIKE PENCE: The difference here is President Trump and I trust the American people to make 02:56.600 --> 02:59.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% choices in the best interest of their health. 02:59.100 --> 03:04.066 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Joe Biden and Kamala Harris consistently talk about mandates. We're about freedom and respecting 03:05.233 --> 03:07.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% the freedom of the American people. 03:07.300 --> 03:10.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: In stark contrast to the first presidential face-off, peppered with interruptions 03:10.966 --> 03:15.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and heckling from the president, Harris and Pence largely stuck to the issues, and their 03:15.566 --> 03:17.600 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% campaign messages. 03:17.600 --> 03:20.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% MIKE PENCE: Your Green New Deal, your massive new mandates, your Paris Climate Accord, it's 03:20.766 --> 03:23.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% going to kill jobs this time just like it killed jobs in the last administration. 03:23.333 --> 03:25.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% SEN. KAMALA HARRIS: I just need to respond very briefly, please. 03:25.866 --> 03:30.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Joe Biden believes you measure the health and the strength of America's economy based 03:30.700 --> 03:35.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% on the health and the strength of the American worker and the American family. On the other 03:37.700 --> 03:41.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% hand, you have Donald Trump, who measures the strength of the economy based on how rich 03:41.800 --> 03:43.800 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% people are doing. 03:43.800 --> 03:46.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: Voters from both sides of the aisle who watched the debate with us, said 03:46.233 --> 03:48.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% they welcomed the change in tone. 03:48.366 --> 03:52.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Who felt better about the way the debate went tonight? Raise your hand if you felt better. 03:52.700 --> 03:55.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% But most were unsatisfied with the candidates' answers. 03:55.266 --> 03:58.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% LORRAINE ZAPATA, Elementary School Principal: I do feel like both candidates were dodging 03:58.400 --> 04:00.500 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% the question. 04:00.500 --> 04:03.333 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% JAROD MADINGER, Sales Consultant: We get it. You all don't like Trump. We get it. Attack 04:03.333 --> 04:05.266 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% the points. 04:05.266 --> 04:07.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: And they're wary of what the next presidential debate could bring. 04:07.366 --> 04:09.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% BRUCE PENUEL, Retired Police Officer: I hope it doesn't repeat itself, but, if it does, 04:09.733 --> 04:11.700 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% I don't see any sense in continuing to watch. 04:11.700 --> 04:15.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: Weighing whether or not to tune in the next time the candidates take to the 04:15.933 --> 04:17.066 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% debate stage. 04:17.066 --> 04:19.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Amna Nawaz.