Wednesday’s vice presidential debate between Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Vice President Mike Pence featured a number of zingers and even some policy discussion. However, it was the fly that spent a few minutes on Pence’s head that really stole the show.
And plenty of Harris supporters got crafty in their remarks — among them former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton who riffed, that Harris “swatted away the lies with ease.”
In a Thursday morning tweet, Clinton congratulated Harris for “a masterful debate performance.”
Congratulations to @kamalaharris for a masterful debate performance.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 8, 2020
She swatted away the lies with ease.
Join this winning team. https://t.co/mxkpLIOEux pic.twitter.com/Lb1KdeudQZ
Of course, Clinton wasn’t the only figure who cracked a fly joke and spun it into a call to action. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tweeted, “The election is fly-ing by. Make sure to make a plan to vote.”
The election is fly-ing by. Make sure to make a plan to vote. https://t.co/dMhxJsRcW7#BidenHarris2020 #VPDebate2020
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) October 8, 2020
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) tweeted that, “The fly needs to be quarantined.”
The fly needs to quarantined. https://t.co/0HzCtVVQy3
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 8, 2020
Democratic nominee Joe Biden quickly posted a photo of himself smirking and holding a fly-swatter and asked supporters to donate five dollars to “help this campaign fly.”
Pitch in $5 to help this campaign fly. https://t.co/CqHAId0j8t pic.twitter.com/NbkPl0a8HV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 8, 2020
Flies landing on the faces and heads of politicians during moments when they’re before the camera are a hallmark of American politics. In 2010, a fly landed on then-President Barack Obama’s face during a speech that he was giving at the White House. In 2016, a fly landed on Hillary Clinton’s face during her debate with Donald Trump.
Clinton has been increasingly vocal about the election over the past few months. The former Secretary of State said in late August, “Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances.”
She added, “I think this is going to drag out, and eventually, I do believe he will win if we don’t give an inch and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is.”