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Politics

Kamala Harris Outshines Donald Trump in Fiery Philadelphia Debate

Wednesday 11 September 2024 - 16:00

Zoom

In a high-stakes encounter on the debate stage in Philadelphia, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump faced off for the first time, delivering a performance that left Harris with a distinct advantage.

The 90-minute debate was marked by Harris’s strategic onslaught of personal critiques, which appeared to unsettle Trump. Her jabs focused on a range of topics, including the size of Trump’s rally crowds, his conduct during the Capitol riot, and the credibility of former administration officials who have since criticized him. These attacks consistently placed Trump on the defensive, forcing him to address his past actions rather than effectively promoting his current campaign.

From the outset, Harris’s remarks about Trump’s rally sizes served to disrupt his messaging, as she suggested that his events were characterized by “exhaustion and boredom.” This early critique set the tone for the debate, leading Trump to spend much of his time defending his rally's popularity and subsequently veering into a bizarre discussion about a debunked rumor involving Haitian immigrants.

In the debate, Harris utilized a tactic of highlighting Trump’s weaknesses, forcing him into prolonged defenses of his past policies and statements. This approach proved effective, as evidenced by a CNN snap poll indicating that Harris outperformed Trump. Betting markets also reflected this sentiment, suggesting that Harris’s performance resonated more favorably with viewers.

The debate covered a variety of critical issues, including the economy and abortion. On the economy, Harris criticized Trump’s proposed tariffs as a “Trump sales tax” and questioned his disassociation from Project 2025, a controversial conservative plan. Trump, in turn, defended his tariff policies by pointing out that the Biden administration had retained many of his tariffs, but this defense did little to address Harris’s critiques directly.

When the discussion shifted to abortion, Harris seized the opportunity to advocate for women’s rights, delivering a poignant message about the impact of restrictive abortion laws in states with what she termed “Trump abortion bans.” Trump’s response to this topic was marked by inconsistencies and a lack of clarity, which further highlighted Harris’s strong position on this issue.

Throughout the evening, Harris's strategic questioning and personal attacks forced Trump to address sensitive and contentious issues, often leading him to make unforced errors. For instance, Harris’s questions about her past positions on oil shale fracking and the Afghanistan withdrawal were met with Trump's defensive responses, which seemed to deflect rather than directly counter Harris’s points.

Despite claims from some Republicans about perceived bias from the ABC moderators, the debate's outcome was influenced by Trump’s reaction to Harris’s tactics. His eagerness to engage with Harris’s provocations appeared to overshadow his performance and left a lasting impression of vulnerability.

As the debate concluded, Harris’s campaign swiftly called for another debate, signaling their confidence in her performance. This eagerness for a subsequent debate suggests that the Harris team views the Philadelphia encounter as a decisive moment in the campaign.

This debate showcased Harris’s ability to effectively challenge Trump while highlighting his weaknesses, potentially shaping the trajectory of the presidential race as both candidates prepare for future confrontations.