pence will have to answer questions tonight, given what we've seen unfold at the white house over the last week, given the fact that he's the head of the coronavirus task force in this country. >> reporter: david, he is known as on message mike and pence is expected tonight to argue that they have done everything they could to tackle this crisis. while harris, a former prosecutor, known for her fierce cross examination, is going to make the case that they have failed the american people. and david, history is about to be made here tonight. kamala harris is set to become the first black woman, the first indian-american, to ever sit on this stage. it is a huge moment for women, especially young girls across this country. david? >> it is a big night ahead. mary, thank you. we'll see you right here, mary, just a short time from now. i hope you'll join the entire political team, 8:00 p.m. eastern, followed by the debate at 9:00, right here on abc. in the meantime, the news continues tonight, and yet another new hurricane bearing down on the u.s. there are states of emergency along the gulf at this hour and mandatory evacuations under way as hurricane delta now targets the gulf coast. let's get to rob marciano, live