Ever since President Donald Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis and quick recovery, online election betting sites have been wary of posting any political odds or lines.
Thankfully, tonight’s highly anticipated Pence vs. Harris Vice Presidential faceoff has generated several political debate props at some of the top operators.
While Bovada is strangely abstaining from offering VP betting odds on this evening’s debate (9:00-10:30 PM, all networks), BetOnline has a smattering of selections available.
Of course, as has become a trend, MyBookie sportsbook offers the most lines by far, so we’re covering those here. And as usual, we’re also offering our take on how you should bet on each one.
2020 Vice President Debate Odds
What will Kamala Harris be wearing for the debate?
- Pants/Blazer -500
- Skirt/Dress +300
Pants and a blazer all the way. Harris always wears a pantsuit, and only Republican female politicians wear skirts and dresses. No chance on the underdog here.
What color will Kamala Harris’ blazer be?
- Black (any shade) +150
- Blue (any shade) +175
- Purple (any shade) +300
- Gray (any shade) +300
- White (any shade) +600
A quick Google image search of Harris at prior debates is of no great help here. Our money’s on Black or Gray, but we’re trying to keep it green, so it’s staying in our wallet.
What color will Mike Pence’s tie be?
- Red (any shade) +125
- Blue (any shade) +150
- Green (any shade) +275
- Black (any shade) +325
In most Google image search results, Pence can be seen wearing a blue tie. He does wear a red one sometimes, though. We’re apt to choke on this one regardless of the neckwear Pence chooses, so we’re choosing to breathe easy and stay away.
Will Mike Pence wear a striped tie?
- Yes -170
- No +130
See above.
Will anyone be escorted out of the debate for not wearing a mask?
- No -900
- Yes +450
There will be a small studio audience for the 2020 VP debate, but it seems unlikely anyone will participate in a mask protest during the event. The payout on “yes” is attractive at +450, but we’re keeping our (social) distance on this one.
How many times will Kamala Harris say “coronavirus”?
- Over 1.0 -170
- Under 1.0 +130
Take the over.
How many times will Kamala Harris say “COVID”?
- Over 3.5 -120
- Under 3.5 -120
Take the over. Twice.
How many times will Mike Pence say “coronavirus”?
- Over 2.5 -120
- Under 2.5 -120
Take the over. Three times.
How many times will Mike Pence say “COVID”?
- Over 2.5 -120
- Under 2.5 -120
Take the over. Four times.
Will Kamala Harris say “China virus” or “Chinese virus”?
- No -2500
- Yes +700
Not a chance in the world. The left blames the Chinese coronavirus on Trump and believes that assigning its proper geographical origin is a macroeconomic microaggression. Caveat: This one could be very misleading in the following way: Harris might absolutely say “China virus” or “Chinese virus” if Pence characterizes it that way, responding that COVID-19 “is not a China/Chinese virus.” This is a debate, after all, and one candidate’s words might be said back to him or her as a vehicle of disagreement. So, maybe there’s a chance in the world, and we’re going to angle for that big +700 payout. But we’re only betting a couple bucks.
Will Mike Pence say “China virus” or “Chinese virus”?
- No -130
- Yes -110
Take the “yes” at -110. It’s a campaign theme, for crying out loud!
How many times will Mike Pence say “China”?
- Over 4.5 -145
- Under 4.5 +105
Over. And over. And over. And over. And over.
Will Kamala Harris say “President Trump”?
- Yes -250
- No +170
We’re slightly skeptical that Harris would use the traditional honorific for the Bad Orange Man, but it seems like she’ll say it at least once. We’re betting “yes.”
How many times will Kamala Harris say “Trump”?
- Over 5.5 -250
- Under 5.5 +170
Over. Way, way, way, way over. To India and Jamaica and back.
How many times will Mike Pence say “Biden”?
- Over 3.5 -160
- Under 3.5 +120
Again, over. This is a VP debate, but the subject isn’t their policies, it’s the policies of the men at the top of their tickets.
How many times will Kamala Harris say “mask”?
- Over 2.5 -160
- Under 2.5 +120
This is almost too easy. Take the over. The -160 payout seems like an incredible value.
How many times will Mike Pence say “mask”?
- Over 1.5 -140
- Under 1.5 +100
Ditto and etc.
Who will say “mask” first?
- Kamala Harris -250
- Mike Pence +170
Whichever VP candidate is asked about the coronavirus or national safety first will say “mask” first. It’s that simple. If there were no structure or question order to this debate, we’d take the favorite. But since it’s a coin flip, we’re staying away. That said, because it’s a coin flip, if we had to bet, we’d take the bigger payout and go on Pence at +170.
Who will say “Trump” first?
- Mike Pence -120
- Kamala Harris -120
As above, this is a coin flip. Whichever candidate is allowed to speak first will be the first to say “Trump.” And since the payout is identical on either side, we see no value. We’re saving our money.
Who will say “police” first?
- Kamala Harris -350
- Mike Pence +225
Left to their own devices, probably Harris. But it’s up to the debate moderator (Susan Page, USA Today) and the speaking order. Given the platform and the outlet, that query may be posed to Pence before it’s posed to Harris, allowing the latter to get in the last word (and a few unanswerable digs in the meantime). Still, this bet’s getting no action from us.
Will Kamala Harris say “racist”?
- Yes -220
- No +155
Does a bear s*** in the Pope’s hat? Well, no. But you smell what we’re stepping in, here, so take the “yes” at -220. Bet the entire farm.
Will Mike Pence test positive for COVID in October?
- No -500
- Yes +300
Publicly? Probably. We’ll take the “yes” for the value of the payout.
Will Kamala Harris test positive for COVID in October?
- No -2500
- Yes +700
Publicly? Probably not. But the payout is too slim to bother with this one.
Of course, despite the above odds all being about the Vice Presidential debate between Pence and Harris, they will assuredly have an effect on the Presidential election odds themselves.
In the case of Pence, he’s the acting VP and speaks for Trump. In the case of Harris, most industry insiders believe that should Joe Biden win, it’ll actually be a de facto Harris presidency.
Thus, if Harris puts on a good show, she might sway some undecided voters in a way that Pence cannot. Good thing Tulsi Gabbard isn’t invited.
We’ll take a look at how the 2020 VP debate leads to changes on the POTUS betting boards later in the week. For now, as a point of reference, here’s how those odds stand just 26 days out from the November general:
2020 Presidential Election Odds – Winner
Bovada:
- Joe Biden -175
- Donald Trump +145
- Mike Pence +3000
- Kamala Harris +5000
- Hillary Clinton +10000
BetOnline:
- Joe Biden -190
- Donald Trump +160
- Mike Pence +3300
- Kamala Harris +6600
- Hillary Clinton +15000
- Michelle Obama +15000
- Elizabeth Warren +25000
- Jo Jorgensen +50000
MyBookie:
- Joe Biden -170
- Donald Trump +145
- Kamala Harris +15000
- Mike Pence +7500
- Any Other Candidate +25000
As you can see, as of right now, Trump reelection odds are as long as they’ve been this entire election cycle. Biden is the clear favorite according to bettors.
Interestingly, today marks the first time that 2020 Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen has broken onto the odds boards, though she’s ironically pulling far worse odds than several other candidates that won’t even be on the November ballot. But that’s because the Libertarian Party has no chance to win the Presidency, and we can’t understand why anyone would make such a wager.
That said, a mere $1 bet would pay out $500 if Jorgensen becomes the next US President. Still, you have a better chance of winning your state lottery than making money on this wager.
At any rate, we’re getting our propcorn ready, and we’ll be here tomorrow to break down how our wagers went.