Harris and Trump to Face Off in High-Stakes Debate

On Tuesday at 9 p.m. in Philadelphia, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will meet on the debate stage for the first time, in an event poised to be pivotal for both candidates. With polls indicating a statistical tie, the debate could shape the direction of the race.

For Harris, the 90-minute debate offers an opportunity to present her policy agenda and demonstrate her ability to handle pressure on the national stage.

Kevin Madden, a senior advisor during Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, suggests that Harris needs to answer key questions for voters: “What direction are you taking the economy? How will you improve safety and security? Do you understand the struggles of everyday people?”

Trump faces a different challenge. Known for his combative debate style, he must strike a balance between energizing his core supporters and avoiding alienating the swing voters critical to his success.

Former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross advises Trump to avoid being overly aggressive, noting, “Americans don’t want to see a strongman intimidating a woman.”

This debate comes just three months after President Joe Biden’s faltering performance in the previous presidential debate led him to end his re-election bid. Harris has since gained momentum, quickly securing her party’s nomination. To prepare, she has been holding mock debates with Philippe Reines, who played Trump during Hillary Clinton’s 2016 prep sessions.

Trump, who has typically done minimal formal debate preparation, is expected to target Harris on her political stance. Republican strategist Whit Ayres points out that Trump’s campaign gains traction when they frame Harris as a liberal out of touch with mainstream America but lose ground when they focus on her race or gender.

Tensions have been high in the lead-up to the event, with both camps negotiating the debate’s format. Harris’s team sought to ensure Trump’s interruptions would be audible, while Trump’s camp pushed to mute candidates during their opponent’s speaking time. Ultimately, Harris’s team conceded.

The debate, hosted at Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center and moderated by ABC News anchors Linsey Davis and David Muir, will feature no live audience. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to questions, followed by rebuttals and follow-ups.

As the stakes rise, Madden argues that while Trump must move beyond past grievances, Harris faces the greater challenge of proving she’s “tough enough, knowledgeable enough, and visionary enough” to lead. He concludes, “This election could hinge on the small fraction of undecided voters still weighing their choice.