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HARRIS AND TRUMP ENGAGE IN POINTED EXCHANGES
(updated
Sept. 11, 2024) Vice
President Kamala Harris and former President Donald
Trump engaged in pointed exchanges over 90 minutes
during the ABC News debate at the National
Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The debate,
coming 66 days before Election Day and with the
election seen as a toss up, presented a stark contrast
to viewers. Heading into the debate, the Harris
campaign said its goal was to show Trump as a figure
"who is pushing a dark, backward-looking agenda and
is only focused on himself," while
the Trump campaign sought to
reveal Harris as "a Radical Left lunatic."
Harris, who prepared extensively for the debate, put in a solid performance. In terms of body language, shew presented a much better picture than Trump; from the opening handshake she appeared calm and poised, while Trump often seemed angry and glowering. Harris did noticeably duck a few questions including the opening "are you better off" and challenges to the Biden administration's record on immigration. Meanwhile, Trump's performance was uneven; he allowed himself to be baited and sidetracked into problematic terrain, for example, talking about crowd sizes and migrants eating pets and repeating lies about winning the 2020 election.
In closing, Harris stated "we can chart a new way forward" and vowed to create an "opportunity economy." Trump dismissed Harris's proposals, noting that she has been in office for three and a half years. "Why hasn't she done it?" he asked.
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Harris, who prepared extensively for the debate, put in a solid performance. In terms of body language, shew presented a much better picture than Trump; from the opening handshake she appeared calm and poised, while Trump often seemed angry and glowering. Harris did noticeably duck a few questions including the opening "are you better off" and challenges to the Biden administration's record on immigration. Meanwhile, Trump's performance was uneven; he allowed himself to be baited and sidetracked into problematic terrain, for example, talking about crowd sizes and migrants eating pets and repeating lies about winning the 2020 election.
In closing, Harris stated "we can chart a new way forward" and vowed to create an "opportunity economy." Trump dismissed Harris's proposals, noting that she has been in office for three and a half years. "Why hasn't she done it?" he asked.
After the
debate, the Harris campaign called for a
second debate in October, and she made
brief remarks at a debate watch party (>).
Harris
also received a boost from
singer Taylor Swift, who
endorsed in her an Instagram
post, lauding her as "a
steady-handed, gifted leader (>)."
Trump
put in an in-person appearance in the
spin room, where he said, "It was my
best debate ever, I think," but was
noncommittal about doing another debate
(>).
The consensus among most commentators the next day was that Trump had not done well; in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece Republican strategist Karl Rove termed it "a catastrophic debate for Trump." Other Republicans saw it as a "missed opportunity." Democrats responded with glowing praise of Harris' performance.
According to Nielsen, over 67.1 million viewers watched the debate across 17 broadcast and cable networks (+). Looking ahead, on Oct. 1, CBS News is hosting a vice presidential debate between Gov. Walz and Sen. Vance (+).
The consensus among most commentators the next day was that Trump had not done well; in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece Republican strategist Karl Rove termed it "a catastrophic debate for Trump." Other Republicans saw it as a "missed opportunity." Democrats responded with glowing praise of Harris' performance.
According to Nielsen, over 67.1 million viewers watched the debate across 17 broadcast and cable networks (+). Looking ahead, on Oct. 1, CBS News is hosting a vice presidential debate between Gov. Walz and Sen. Vance (+).
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Postscript:
Copyright © 2024 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in
Action. All rights reserved.