The first and only debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump was a historic night that led to Vice President Kamala Harris replacing Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket. With Harris set to debate Trump, lessons from the past debate must be remembered. Optics are crucial in debates, and Harris needs to maintain her poise and make a strong visual impact. Biden struggled to articulate his platform during the debate, losing his train of thought on multiple occasions. This gave Trump an opportunity to attack Biden’s credibility during the debate.
During the debate, the topic of abortion stirred emotions, with Trump falsely claiming that eliminating the national right to abortion was a popular decision. Biden criticized Trump’s stance on abortion and compared it to turning back civil rights to the states. However, Biden’s response took an unexpected turn when he brought up crimes committed by migrants and associated it with the issue of abortion, which left Democratic strategists in a state of panic early on in the debate.
As the debate progressed, Biden continued to struggle with his responses, leading to mockery from Trump. The White House attributed Biden’s performance to a cold, but the damage had already been done. Biden was already facing doubts about his ability to serve until his late 80s, and the debate only reinforced these concerns about his fitness for office. Harris, in contrast, is seen as a more viable candidate due to her relative youth and provides a break from Biden’s age-related vulnerabilities.
Facing Trump in a debate comes with its own challenges, as he is known for being forceful but hyperbolic and frequently dishonest. Former President Bill Clinton advised countering Trump’s self-centered approach by highlighting his narcissism during debates. Harris must be prepared to face Trump’s tactics in the upcoming debate and maintain a strong visual presence to sway public opinion. As Harris and Trump prepare to face off, the stakes are high, and the lessons from past debates must be kept in mind to ensure a strong performance from Harris.
