Pence, Harris face off in VP debate with diverging views of America

While President Donald Trump resisted typical debate preparations, Vice President Mike Pence has held lengthy mock debate sessions and enlisted the help of a former prosecutor and state attorney general to play his opponent.

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi -- who was also a member of the president's impeachment defense team -- was tasked to play the role of Sen. Kamala Harris in mock debate sessions with Pence in Washington, D.C. before he left for Utah.

Bondi is a career prosecutor who has a history with Kamala Harris -- both served as state attorney generals.

"Kamala was my colleague when we were attorneys general together and she's very smart, she's a seasoned debated, you know she's career prosecutor so prosecutors can debate and they can debate well," Bondi told Fox News.

While top aides privately call Pence "on-message Mike," referring to his more measured, consistent tone, he will be forced to defend the Trump administration's handling of the coronavirus pandemic as the president suggests his contracting COVID-19 was an act of political courage to help him lead the fight against the virus.

Aides plan to use Pence's experience as the head of the White House coronavirus task force to frame him as being on the "front lines" of fighting for the American people on COVID-19.

Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has also been advising Pence. Walker helped Pence prepare for the last vice presidential debate against Sen. Tim Kaine in 2016.

Walker told Fox & Friends on Wednesday that there's no doubt Pence will face questions on COVID-19, but will focus on how the administration took quick action -- including shutting down China travel.

Walker said Pence will be "calm" but also "emotional and aggressive" during Wednesday's debate.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott and Katherine Faulders

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Wednesday that she's been texting with Sen. Kamala Harris about tonight's vice presidential debate.

Her advice to Harris: be yourself.

She also noted that health care will be a big topic tonight and encouraged Harris to beat that drum loudly.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan

Vice President Mike Pence represents a more traditional style of the Republican Party compared to President Donald Trump but has been a loyal second-in-command throughout their first term in office. Pence has been at the forefront, sometimes leading, major policy efforts of the Trump administration, such as the White House's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The pair did not personally know one another prior to their 2016 race, but their first term has strengthened their bond. Pence has been steadfast in his support for the president through controversy, whether it was a ban on travel into the U.S. from predominantly Muslim countries, Trump's impeachment by the House of Representatives and trial in the Senate, or the decision to resume large, in-person campaign events amid coronavirus.

Read more on Pence's background here.

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Who is Mike Pence?

Michael R. Pence is the 48th and current Vice President of the United States.

ABCNews.com

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

He speaks at March for Life, the nation's largest annual rally against abortion. She presented a landmark plan to protect abortion rights.

Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris are set to face off on Wednesday in a debate bound to display their drastically opposing views on the issue, which takes on renewed urgency as the Senate considers the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court. Harris is in the unique position of being a sitting Senator who will decide Barrett's fate ahead of the election.

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Harris vs. Pence on the issues

An overview of the vice presidential candidates’ positions on various issues.

ABCNews.com

The two vice presidential candidates represent opposite sides of the spectrum on reproductive rights, as nationwide support for abortion rights remains high. A July 2019 ABC News/Washington Post poll found 60% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, with only 24% saying abortion access should be harder.

A May 2020 poll by Gallup found similar results, with only 20% of respondents saying abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.

Read more on the candidates' positions on abortion here.

-ABC News' Alexandra Svokos