Well written sir, but I disagree with your thesis, "It is my view that Senator Harris executed a debate performance that will maintain, or even strengthen, the current standing of the Democratic ticket."

I believe the polls and odds will move ever so slightly in Trump/Pence direction. Betting odds are already showing that: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-election-odds-cut-mike-pence-vp-debate-kamala-harris-1537463. I also believe Frank Luntz undecided focus group stronger disapproval of Kamala Harris is also revealing. I guess we'll learn in a few days who is more right here, but the fact Twitter and MSM, left institutions, are calling it a "tie" and are more focused on a "fly" when you know they had wanted to run headlines about how the first black female VP nominee destroys old white conservative man goes to show that, in my opinion, Pence won.

You also cite the NYT as a fact-checker, but at this point they are partisan hacks. When was the last time they ran a pro-Trump piece? Even former writers are leaving the company saying they have given up the truth business to pander because in our fractured media environment that's what often makes more money therefore we might as well use JoeBiden.com as a fact-checker source because it would be just as credible. Her "Honest Abe" bit was a lie.

The main reason you seem to think Harris won as you acknowledge is because you agree with her more in policy than with Pence, but if that is our guide then as a more conservative person I definitely think Pence won. She was caught in a paradox where in one breath she promises not to raise taxes on the middle class, but then in the next breath promises to repeal Trump tax cuts which would effectively raise taxes on the middle class. When Pence pointed out this paradox, she ignored it by reasserting her first point with more emotion, but I think many middle class independents and conservatives on the fence saw through that and think that it's more likely there is a Trump tax cut repeal then there will be a middle class tax cut bill. She also sidestepped court packing by effectively justifying it by saying, well you are packing the court with white people. I also don't think she handled well many of Biden's flip-flopping accusations, perhaps because when you are running as a leftist centrist you yourself probably aren't sure what is the current position of the campaign, but I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree on this paragraph.

"These moments paired with the occasional “Mr. Vice President, I’m still speaking” made for a debate that is unable to close the widening gap in polling we have seen this week." This point came across to me as very rehearsed. She was too ready for an interruption, but no matter her seriousness I'm sure to her it was "just a debate."

With that said, I would have liked to see Trump/Pence have a clearer vision for what they plan to do once reelected. As you stated, it does seem like they just want a return to the status quo, but perhaps enough Americans may want that too in November.