Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will meet face to face for the first time on Tuesday in the much-anticipated US presidential debate.
The debate marks a pivotal moment in the 2024 race, as both candidates vie for the presidency.
While Vice President Harris has energized the Democratic campaign since replacing President Joe Biden in July, her lead over Trump has narrowed in recent days, reflecting an extremely tight race.
According to the Financial Times poll tracker, Harris holds a slim 2.9 percentage point advantage over Trump nationally.
As the race heats up, both candidates will be under pressure to deliver a strong performance when they take the stage at 9 p.m. ET in Philadelphia.
Harris and Trump: Who will look more presidential?
Tuesday’s debate will follow a similar format to past presidential debates, with each candidate having their microphone switched off while the other is speaking.
ABC anchors Linsey Davis and David Muir will moderate, giving each candidate two minutes to answer questions, followed by two minutes for rebuttal, and a minute for follow-up. No prepared notes will be allowed.
Harris, who is less familiar to voters than Trump, will face heightened scrutiny.
Georgetown University government professor Hans Noel noted, “The stakes are high for both of them, but more for Harris.”
This will be her first major opportunity to directly engage Trump and defend her policies.
For Trump, the challenge will be finding effective attack lines against his opponent.
The former president has relied on personal attacks, including questioning Harris’s racial identity and reposting sexist social media comments.
However, polls show that these tactics may not resonate with voters as much as substantive policy discussions.
Trump seeks to define Harris
Both candidates will aim to shape how Harris is perceived by the public, particularly among voters who may know less about her.
Trump has portrayed Harris as a radical communist and inconsistent on policy, while also mocking her as “Laughing Kamala.”
However, he has struggled to find a focused line of attack that resonates with the public.
For Trump, the debate is a critical moment to redirect his campaign. Republican strategist Kevin Madden emphasized,
He’s going to have 90 minutes to offer a real focused line of attack on Harris . . . better than any 30-second ad.
Harris, on the other hand, will use the debate to present her policy proposals and strengthen her campaign’s substance.
After criticism that her campaign lacks detailed policy plans, the debate provides a key opportunity to prove otherwise.
Will Harris use her prosecutor background to challenge Trump?
Harris’s experience as a prosecutor has been a central part of her political identity, and she has been more aggressive than Biden in targeting Trump over his legal challenges.
During her address at the Democratic National Convention, Harris drew comparisons between her experience prosecuting “fraudsters” and Trump’s legal troubles.
She has continued to press these issues on the campaign trail, contrasting her background with Trump’s court appearances.
Trump, meanwhile, is expected to counter by painting Harris as a “weak-on-crime” prosecutor and radical prosecutor — a line of attack that may resonate with his base.
Competing economic visions to dominate debate
Voters consistently rank the economy as a top concern, and both candidates will outline their contrasting economic visions.
Trump, promoting his “America First” agenda, will emphasize tax cuts, deregulation, and energy production.
He is also expected to announce sweeping tariffs aimed at boosting US manufacturing.
In contrast, Harris will push for higher taxes on the wealthy and large corporations, alongside proposals for child care tax credits and expanded social safety nets.
However, Harris has faced criticism for not offering enough details on issues like price gouging, raising concerns among some economists about potential price controls.
While voters have previously trusted Trump more on economic issues, recent polling suggests that trust may be shifting in Harris’s favor, adding a new dynamic to the debate.
Immigration and abortion: Key flashpoints
Immigration and abortion are two critical issues that could sway voters during the debate.
Trump is likely to attack Harris for her role in handling the US-Mexico border crisis, which has seen a surge in migrants.
He is expected to point out that Harris, as vice president, was tasked with addressing the root causes of migration but has made little progress.
Meanwhile, Harris will link Trump to the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, emphasizing her commitment to reproductive rights.
Trump’s stance on abortion remains complicated as he tries to balance the views of his religious base with those of more moderate voters.
Republican strategist Doug Heye noted that Trump’s approach could be effective if he remains focused.
When Harris says she will do something on any topic, all he has to say is, ‘you’ve been there for three and a half years — why haven’t you done anything yet?
As the debate approaches, both candidates will aim to sharpen their messages and appeal to a diverse electorate, with issues like the economy, immigration, and personal integrity set to take center stage.
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