As the debate on Tuesday approaches, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are preparing in sharply different ways, reflecting their distinct political styles and visions for the country.
Vice President Harris has retreated to a historic Pittsburgh hotel to focus on perfecting her debate responses, adhering to the two-minute format. Working with her team since Thursday, Harris chose a venue that also allows her to engage with swing-state voters.
Trump, on the other hand, has dismissed the idea of formal preparation. The former president is filling his schedule with campaign events, confident in his ability to handle the debate spontaneously. “You can go in with all the strategy you want, but you have to sort of feel it out as the debate’s taking place,” he said in a town hall with Sean Hannity. Quoting Mike Tyson, Trump added, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
Harris expects Trump to use insults and misrepresent facts, but she is focusing on middle-class issues and a hopeful vision for America. “We should be prepared for the fact that he is not burdened by telling the truth,” she said in a radio interview.
To prepare, Harris has enlisted Democratic consultant Philippe Reines, who portrays Trump during practice sessions. She views Trump as having a “playbook” of falsehoods, similar to his approach against past Democratic figures like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Harris believes she understands Trump’s psychological tactics and has aimed to portray herself as a stronger leader.
The debate will be pivotal, particularly after Trump’s previous debate with President Joe Biden reshaped the race. Both sides are aware of how critical this face-off could be in a close contest.
Trump preemptively criticizes the ABC News moderators, anticipating bias but pledging to allow Harris to speak, as he did during his debate with Biden. His preparation consists mainly of discussions with policy advisers and informal sessions, not traditional debate practice. Former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who debated Harris in 2020, has also been advising Trump.
Trump plans to challenge Harris on her political stances, particularly by tying her to Biden’s economic policies and highlighting her reversals on issues like fracking. His campaign is set to emphasize Harris’s supposed liberalism, with spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt claiming, “The president’s proven he has a command of the issues, she does not.”
Meanwhile, Harris’s campaign is counting on Trump to come across as extreme and aims to use the debate to boost its momentum. Over the weekend, her campaign will hold 2,000 events to reach over a million voters, leveraging the debate excitement.
Both sides are gearing up for a high-stakes encounter that could shape the final stretch of the election
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