Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will face off in their first debate on Thursday. The event will be the first time both candidates have met face-to-face and an opportunity for Harris to connect with undecided voters and for Trump to successfully attack her campaign. This debate has the potential to be the only debate between the candidates, with so much at stake, what can we expect from this debate?
First, it could be an opportunity for Trump to land a successful attack against Harris. President Joe Biden’s withdrawal appears to have unnerved Trump’s campaign and allies, making it difficult for them to draw a clear strategy to attack Harris.
The New York Times reported that Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida said that Trump doesn’t do debate prep, however, many insiders have reported that Trump and his allies are carefully analyzing previous Harris’ tactics and how to attack her.
For Harris, the debate is a critical moment to establish her own political identity. While Trump is a well-known figure with firmly entrenched public opinions, Harris is still defining herself for many voters. She is forgoing the Clinton-era approach of attacking Trump’s character and is instead focusing on practical issues that resonate with voters, such as economic recovery and public welfare. Harris’s strategy revolves around positioning Trump as out of touch with everyday Americans and presenting herself as a fresh alternative capable of addressing voters’ concerns.
A significant part of the debate will revolve around how Trump handles questions on sensitive topics like abortion, which has become a challenging issue for him recently. His campaign’s strategy includes tying Harris closely to the Biden administration, especially focusing on the economic difficulties and global instability that have marked Biden’s presidency. Trump’s goal is to portray Harris as responsible for the administration’s unpopular policies.
Trump’s unpredictability remains one of his strongest debate tactics, and Harris must anticipate how to respond to his attacks on her policies, record, and even personal background. With no live audience and microphones muting the candidates when they are not speaking, the debate format will offer limited opportunities for interruptions—something Trump’s team is hoping to navigate skillfully. However, Trump’s personal disdain for Harris, which is often expressed in misogynistic and dismissive language, could make it difficult for him to maintain the composure his advisers are pushing for.
The next debate could be crucial for both candidates’ campaigns, and they will take every opportunity to attack the other in a way that resonates with median voters primarily.
The debate will air at 9 p.m. Et from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, hosted by ABC News. Anchors David Muir and Linsey Daves will moderate the debate. You can watch it on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu.
