Kamala Harris and Donald Trump faced each other in their first presidential debate in Philadelphia, with the campaigns being neck and neck just two months away from election day. Harris, who has maintained a polling lead over Trump since Joe Biden dropped out, faced the challenge of regaining momentum in a race that has tightened significantly. Aaron Kall, director of debate at the University of Michigan, noted that both candidates are effective debaters, with the event expected to be viewed by tens of millions of people.
Harris faced the added pressure of making a strong first impression as a presidential candidate on the debate stage. She was expected to be more methodical, efficient, and prosecutorial, while Trump was characterized as free-flowing and unpredictable. The goal for Harris was to pass the “commander-in-chief test” and show that she was capable of going head-to-head with a former president who had considerable national stage experience. The focus for Harris was to avoid falling into the trap of engaging in personal attacks with Trump.
The week leading up to the debate was challenging for Harris, with criticism coming from multiple fronts. The discovery of six Israeli hostages killed by Hamas after Harris warned against military action in the area sparked outrage from Republicans, who painted her foreign policy as ineffective. Gold Star families also criticized Harris for her perceived role in the Biden administration’s mismanagement of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Polling expert Nate Silver pointed to a recent poll that showed Trump narrowly leading Harris nationally, indicating a shift in momentum towards Trump.
Trump doubled down on his favored campaign issues of immigration, inflation, and crime, which were likely to be central to his debate strategy. Harris needed to convince audiences that she had moved towards the center from her 2019 campaign, where she took progressive stances on issues like fracking, the Green New Deal, and healthcare for illegal immigrants. The debate would be a test of whether Trump could maintain discipline and stick to his issues or if he would allow Harris to get under his skin, potentially leading to damaging moments similar to those he had with Hillary Clinton in past debates.
Overall, the debate between Harris and Trump presented a high-stakes opportunity for both candidates to sway undecided voters and solidify their positions in the race. With the campaigns being so close in the polls, the outcome of the debate could have a significant impact on the trajectory of the election. Harris faced the challenge of presenting herself as a strong and capable leader, while Trump needed to maintain discipline and focus on his key campaign issues. The debate was expected to be a closely watched event that could play a crucial role in shaping the narrative of the presidential race leading up to election day.
