In the lead-up to the intense presidential debate between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump, the race for the White House seemed to favor Trump. However, as the heated debate unfolded, it became clear that Harris had gained the upper hand, successfully provoking Trump on various issues.
The two candidates sparred over immigration, foreign policy, and healthcare, though specific policy details were sparse. Harris aggressively shifted the spotlight onto Trump, and while he initially avoided personal attacks, he grew visibly frustrated as the debate progressed. This led to Trump making several personal remarks, deviating from the core issues.
At one point, Harris mocked Trump’s campaign rallies, suggesting that attendees often leave early “out of exhaustion and boredom.” This comment appeared to enrage Trump, who countered with an unsubstantiated claim about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, allegedly “eating the pets” of locals. Harris responded, laughing, “Talk about extreme.”
Who won the presidential debate?
According to the BBC, Harris appeared to have the edge, particularly in capitalizing on her strengths and exploiting Trump’s weaknesses. UK-based observers from The Independent noted that Trump’s erratic responses, repeated falsehoods, and frequent interruptions hurt his performance. While some claimed there was no definitive winner, analysts agreed that Trump’s performance faltered.
Brit Hume of Fox News commented, “Make no mistake, Trump had a bad night,” emphasizing that Trump’s focus on old grievances didn’t play well politically. Analysts further observed that Trump took Harris’ bait on sensitive topics like his criminal trials, rally sizes, abortion, and foreign policy.
One pivotal moment occurred when Harris taunted Trump about his rallies, triggering a rant about the Biden administration. Trump vehemently defended his rallies, saying, “People don’t leave my rallies. We have the biggest, most incredible rallies in the history of politics.” Another notable highlight was Harris walking across the stage to offer a handshake— the first one in a presidential debate since 2016.
Reactions to the debate
While many applauded Harris’ performance, some of Trump’s supporters stood by his showing and criticized ABC News for bias. Trump himself declared the debate a success, stating, “I thought that was my best debate, EVER, especially since it was THREE ON ONE!”
Marc Short, former Chief of Staff to Mike Pence, remarked that Trump “missed an opportunity” by failing to focus on the Biden-Harris administration’s shortcomings on the economy and immigration. Instead, he chased after distractions like election denialism and the bizarre claim about immigrants eating pets.
Republican strategist Ron Bonjean noted that although Harris succeeded in rattling Trump, it was unclear if she had swayed undecided voters. “The question is how much she moved the needle,” he said, adding that Trump had not helped his case by agreeing to participate.
Latino leaders praised Harris for her performance, particularly in calling out Trump’s comments toward immigrant communities. Conversely, Florida Senator Marco Rubio echoed Trump supporters’ criticism, accusing ABC News of giving Harris an easier ride by not posing enough challenging questions.
From an investor perspective, Harris came out slightly ahead. PredictIt’s 2024 presidential election market saw Harris’ odds improve to 56%, up from 52% before the debate, while Trump’s odds dropped from 51% to 48%.
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