2020 U.S. election

A distinguished group of U.S. political observers join the Maclean’s senior writer to discuss what’s at stake in the upcoming presidential election

Paul Wells: In their duelling town halls, Biden may have got off easy, but he was sharp and well-prepared. Trump’s show, meanwhile, turned into a rough ride.

Adnan R. Khan: Fundamentalists are readying themselves for a confrontation with liberal secularism, with Trump as their crusading knight

Philippe J. Fournier: The current map shows a distinct advantage towards Joe Biden. But any victory will ultimately come down to three crucial states.

Kamala Harris combined assertiveness and ease, but both she and Mike Pence wriggled out of key questions. It was all so blessedly normal.

Paul Wells: There aren’t a lot of ways to politely defend the president. Enter the interrupting, truth-inverting funhouse mirror Mike Pence.

Scott Gilmore: The pundits theorized this crucial debate did not likely change many minds. It’s possible that women saw it differently.

Paul Wells: The job of a president Joe Biden would be leading the cleanup crew after a vandal. At stake: the entire American project.

David Frum: First-term Trump was lazy, gullible, ignorant, vain and crooked. Second-term Trump would be worse.

Watch the VP debate right here at 9 p.m. ET