World Courant
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump face off Tuesday in what might be their solely presidential debate. The stakes are excessive for an occasion anticipated to be watched by hundreds of thousands of People and a good portion of undecided voters.
Harris’ momentum, which got here after she was neck-and-neck because the Democratic nominee, has now stalled. The pinnacle-to-head race is now an opportunity to reignite that momentum if she will make an excellent case for her personal candidacy and deem Trump unfit for one more time period.
Trump, in the meantime, has struggled to discover a approach to persistently and successfully assault his new opponent, however has remained fiercely aggressive, because of a big base of steadfast supporters and the broad swath of People who have already got a settled view of him. Tuesday’s debate affords him an opportunity to shore up his assist whereas casting Harris in a unfavorable mild amongst an citizens with much less settled perceptions of her.
The ABC Information debate, moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis, will happen on Tuesday, September 10 at 9:00 p.m. ET. A primetime pre-debate particular will air at 8:00 p.m. ET. It’ll air on ABC and stream on ABC Information Dwell, Disney+ and Hulu. Viewers may stream the talk on the ABC app on a smartphone or pill, on ABC.com and linked units.
Listed here are 5 issues to look at for throughout Tuesday’s debate.
‘Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – ABC Information Presidential Debate’ moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis.
Al Drago/ABC NEWS
Can Trump Keep Targeted on Coverage?
Trump has tried to painting Harris as a “California liberal,” casting voters’ perceptions of the progressive bastion as a candidate who served because the state’s legal professional common and junior senator. He has additionally hammered her on immigration and inflation — two voter considerations the place polls counsel he has an edge.
Nevertheless, he has additionally made private feedback, equivalent to falsely questioning Harris’ racial identification (she is Black and South Asian), touting what he calls his superior look and spreading vulgar and false accusations that Harris’ earlier romantic relationships have furthered her political profession.
Allies informed ABC Information it was vital to stay to the message he has given over the previous 4 years on the economic system, when inflation was low earlier than the pandemic and criticism of unauthorized border crossings was decrease.
On this composite picture, Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris (left) and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump communicate throughout a debate in Atlanta on October 7, 2020, in Salt Lake Metropolis.
AP
They argue that making private assaults can be counterproductive as a result of it could distract media consideration from what they see as a good coverage situation.
“I believe so,” former White Home spokesman Sean Spicer mentioned when requested if Trump supplies an efficient foil to the method. “If I needed to criticize him, it could be that generally he makes the case after which, with all due respect, generally he goes past the case and provides the media one thing else to deal with.”
“He has to keep away from making a second that takes away from her file. So if it is about her persona or her appears to be like as an alternative of her file, then that adjustments the main focus of what individuals are speaking concerning the subsequent day.”
How does Harris introduce herself to undecided voters?
Though Trump has near-universal identify recognition, 28% of doubtless voters in a latest New York Instances/Siena Faculty Ballot mentioned they really feel like they “must know extra about Kamala Harris.” That signifies that whereas many citizens have heard of Harris, they see her as much less outlined than Trump and thus must do extra work to introduce herself — to keep away from being outlined by her opponents.
Harris has a twin goal in Tuesday’s debate: to painting herself as somebody who would make a succesful president and to rile up Trump, frightening a response suggesting he’s unworthy of one other 4 years within the White Home.
“I believe there must be an extended listing of criticisms of Donald Trump, however on the identical time you have to be very clear about your imaginative and prescient for the long run,” mentioned Bakari Sellers, a outstanding Harris ally and Democratic media commentator.
Vice President Kamala Harris takes a photograph whereas visiting Penzeys Spices throughout a marketing campaign go to, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 7, 2024.
Rebecca Droke/AP
Harris has tried to do each on the path.
On Monday, she laid out her coverage proposals on a brand new web page on her web site, her most complete clarification but of her platform. And in earlier speeches, she has boasted about her time as a state prosecutor and legal professional common, the place she fought gangs and different prison exercise, and informed the group that she “is aware of Donald Trump’s sort,” in an obvious reference to his authorized troubles.
How she balances these two dictates may present clues about how she and her marketing campaign assume they will obtain victory in November.
Are there scorching mics?
Harris had a memorable debate efficiency in 2020, when she went up towards then-Vice President Mike Pence. Pence wormed her approach into her solutions, permitting her to declare, “I communicate,” in one of many evening’s most viral moments.
It’s unclear whether or not she will repeat such a second.
Candidates’ microphones are muted whereas their opponent is answering a query. Harris’ staff resisted this, hoping that Trump would aggressively interrupt her and seem unpresidential.
In elections the place coverage is much less vital than persona, such a battle might be probably the most placing moments within the debate.
How huge is President Joe Biden’s function?
For the reason that begin of her marketing campaign, Harris has walked a tightrope between acknowledging her function in Biden’s administration and touting its accomplishments, and positioning herself as a worthy candidate, particularly after the weird method during which she grew to become her social gathering’s nominee.
A latest New York Instances/Siena Faculty ballot discovered that about 61% of doubtless voters mentioned the following president ought to signify a significant change from Biden. Simply 25% of them mentioned Harris represented that change, in contrast with 53% who mentioned Trump did.
Harris has campaigned largely alone thus far. Throughout a joint look in Pittsburgh and on the Democratic conference final month, Biden spoke first earlier than handing the stage to Harris, underscoring her function within the marketing campaign.
Trump, in the meantime, has at occasions taken in depth purpose at Biden, particularly within the days and weeks after the president ended his marketing campaign and handed the reins to Harris.
Former President Donald Trump speaks throughout a marketing campaign rally on the Central Wisconsin Airport in Misonee, Wisconsin, Sept. 7, 2024.
Scott Olson/Getty Photographs
Such a technique dangers placing an excessive amount of deal with Biden fairly than Trump’s opponent. However allies say it might be a boon, tying Harris to voter disapproval of the president’s dealing with of the economic system and inflation.
“To be seen as somebody who has a profitable debate, he has to proceed that assault,” mentioned a former marketing campaign aide who has contact with Trump’s present staff. “She’s the vp of the US who’s looking for Joe Biden’s second time period. We will make that time.”
Is there a key second that may affect the election consequence?
The ultimate debate between Biden and Trump was clearly vital — it ended the previous’s marketing campaign. That does not imply Tuesday’s debate can have the identical affect.
Hundreds of thousands will undoubtedly tune in for the ultimate salvo in a race stuffed with unpredictable twists and turns, elevating the stakes. However many debates trigger little greater than ripples in presidential races — an consequence that will profit neither candidate.
Because it stands, the race is neck and neck. Harris would love a second to revive the momentum that propelled her into rivalry however has now stalled; Trump would love a second to erase a few of the beneficial properties Harris has made and successfully reverse her improved ballot numbers.
Now it’s as much as the candidates to make this occur.
Debate Day is Right here: 5 Issues to Look ahead to within the Thrilling Harris-Trump Showdown
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