Mike Pence vs Tim Kaine in vice-presidential debate

Watch the full debate below

The two US vice-presidential nominees, Republican Mike Pence and Democrat Tim Kaine, produced a lively televised debate that lacked for nothing on what their running mates did last week.

The respective broad policy agendas and political vulnerabilities dominated the bulk of the encounter.

It started politely but the two candidates quickly descended into squabbling, interrupting and talking over each other, just like Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump did a week ago.

Messrs Kaine and Pence offered different diagnoses of how to handle foreign policy, law enforcement, tax policy, Social Security, immigration and other issues.

Mr Kaine, a US senator from Virginia and former mayor of Richmond, called into question Mr Trump’s fitness to serve as president, adding that Mrs Clinton should be trusted because of her lifelong history of “focusing on serving others.”

“That’s a sharp contrast with Donald Trump,” Mr Kaine said. “Donald Trump always puts himself first.”

Mr Pence, who is governor of Indiana, portrayed Mr. Trump as an agent of change, while criticising Mrs. Clinton for advocating tax increases and increased regulation

Mr Pence also attacked Mrs Clinton’s handling of foreign policy as secretary of state, saying that as a result of her policies, “we see entire portions of the world – particularly the wider Middle East – literally spinning out of control.”

He said America’s world role had been “weakened” by her efforts.

Mr. Kaine highlighted the recent disclosure that Mr Trump might not have paid any taxes for years. Mr Kaine demanded to know why Mr Trump wouldn’t release his tax returns.

“He broke his first promise,” Mr Kaine asserted.

Earlier:
The US vice-presidential debate features two low-key candidates, Republican Mike Pence, 57, and Democrat Tim Kaine, 58, who each have roughly two decades of elected office in their home states of Indiana and Virginia.

They are expected to spend considerable time defending the records and statements of their respective presidential candidates, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton. 

But they are also likely to be pressed on issues such as abortion and trade, where their own records clash with those of their running mates.

Mr Pence has voted for the Trans Pacific Partnership and disagreed with Mr Trump’s call last December to temporarily ban Muslims from immigrating to the US.

Mr Kaine has been described as a pro-gun, pro-life Catholic centrist but has since gone to the left of Mrs Clinton.

Mr Pence is governor of Indiana and was elected to Congress in 2000.

Mr Kaine, a US senator, is a former mayor of Richmond and governor of Virginia.