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Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana clearly made a decision before last night’s vice-presidential debate. He was going to defend Donald Trump with style rather than substance.

Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia entered the debate with one main strategy: He would confront Pence with Trump’s words, actions and proposals – and challenge Pence to defend them.

Pence, of course, can’t really defend Trump. He can’t defend Trump’s insults of women, African-Americans, Latinos, Muslims, veterans and the disabled. He can’t defend Trump’s praise of Vladimir Putin. He can’t – or at least won’t – defend Trump’s statements in favor of nuclear proliferation and mass deportation.