The 2024 presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump was a contentious and revealing event. Harris came into the debate with the task of proving her capabilities and presidential vision, while Trump aimed to maintain his base and attract undecided voters.
Harris successfully kept Trump on the defensive throughout much of the debate. She used various strategies, such as taunting Trump about his crowd sizes, past bankruptcies, and global reputation. This strategy seemed effective as Trump repeatedly took the bait, leading him into unplanned responses and off-script comments. For instance, Harris criticized Trump's immigration policy, pointing to his failure to support bipartisan solutions. Trump responded with baseless stories about immigrants, which Harris countered, making it a focal point of the debate. She also managed to push Trump into discussing controversial topics like the 2020 election and his stance on Russia and Ukraine, drawing him into areas that many voters found concerning (Politico, Politico).
Trump struggled to land substantial hits on Harris, even on topics that typically favor him, like the economy and immigration. When discussing his proposed policies, Trump vacillated and sometimes dismissed key points, like when he sidestepped Project 2025, an ultra-conservative agenda he has supported. Harris, on the other hand, laid out her policy proposals confidently, speaking about her plans to lower housing costs and provide tax relief to new parents, while asserting her stance on issues like fracking and gun ownership.
Despite Harris' ability to get under Trump's skin, the debate format did present some challenges. The muted microphones, which were part of the debate rules, limited some direct exchanges and may have prevented Harris from cross-examining Trump as effectively as she might have preferred. Nonetheless, Harris used her time to address key issues and fact-check Trump's statements, maintaining a composed and direct demeanor throughout the debate (Politico, Politico).
The debate's impact on the overall race remains to be seen, as it will depend on how voters interpret the performances and whether Trump faces any political fallout from his contentious and defensive approach.