The Harris-Trump debate at a very important stage of the presidential campaign

2024-09-09 22:14:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The debate between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump, which will be held on Tuesday, could be one of the critical moments of the campaign for the November 5 presidential election in the United States.

The two candidates have never met or spoken to each other on the phone, but on Tuesday they will stand within striking distance of each other at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. They are expected to exchange criticism with each other for 90 minutes, while answering questions posed by two journalists of the ABC channel, David Muir and Linsey Davis.

Tens of millions of Americans are expected to watch the debate between the two presidential candidates. This may be the only debate between them in the campaign for the November 5 presidential election. The debate is held eight weeks before the official election day, but just days before early voting begins in some of the nation's 50 states.

Polls show the race is close, making it all the more important for the two candidates to perform well in the debate, in which they will try to attract the support of a small number of voters. Americans this year will choose between the return of former President Trump to the White House and the exit of Vice President Harris as the Democratic candidate for the post of president.

After Mr. Biden withdrew from the presidential race in July because of a poor showing in the first debate with Mr. Trump in late June, he endorsed Ms. Harris as a presidential candidate. The Democrats quickly rallied and at their party's national convention formally nominated Ms. Harris as their presidential candidate. While President Biden was trailing Mr. Trump in the polls when he withdrew from the race, Vice President Harris has a two- or three-point lead over Mr. Trump in national polls.

The results of a New York Times and Siena College poll released Sunday put Mr. Trump ahead 48 percent to 47 percent nationally. However, the New York Times also said that based on the results of many recent polls, Ms. Harris has a lead over Mr. Trump in three swing states - Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania - and has equal support with Mr. Trump in four other states. important - Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina.

These seven states are expected to play a major role in determining the outcome of the election. In the United States, a candidate becomes president by securing the electoral votes, not by winning a majority of the popular vote nationwide.

A new poll by the New York Times and Siena College shows that the debate is most important to Democrat Kamala Harris, as 28% of respondents said they should know more about her, while only 9% said the same about Mr. Trump. . So Ms. Harris needs to make a presentation to the American public in Tuesday's debate more than former President Trump did.

University of Michigan debate expert Aaron Kall told VOA that “Tuesday's debate is one of the most anticipated and important debates of all time. Mr. Trump has more experience with presidential debates, but he has a history of making controversial comments about rivals on stage that can distract from the discussion of important policy issues."

“Harris only entered the race in July and is still being judged by voters and Mr. Trump's campaign team. She must prove that she can criticize the policies followed by Mr. Trump when he was president and his recent actions," he said. "Trump is very effective with counterpunches and can use a destructive debate strategy if he feels he is being treated unfairly on stage."

Debate expert Kall added, "Both candidates should highlight their compelling biographies and unique skills that make them qualified to lead the country over the next four years."

He said both candidates "need to make these voters feel good about the prospect of them being president for the next four years and regular figures on their television screens and in their living rooms."

Ms. Harris is preparing for the debate at a hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a key state for the election. She has held several rehearsals with a person playing the role of her rival Donald Trump, in a scene similar to those used by television channels and with moderators asking tough questions.

Former President Trump has engaged in policy briefings with his advisers, but without rehearsing with a figure similar to Ms. Harris.

Abortion, immigration at the US-Mexico border, the crime rate in the United States and personal character are among the issues ABC reporters are likely to include on the list of questions for the candidates.

Meanwhile, Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris have already traded criticism at a distance.

Mr Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity last week that he had let Mr Biden speak in their debate in June, adding: "I'll let him speak. There are those who say that Mr. Biden is smarter than her. If so, we have a problem.” Mr Trump has often insulted Ms Harris's intellect, saying she "has no idea what she's doing".

"Look, this is a woman who is dangerous," he said. "You can't take risks. You have no choice. You should vote for me, even if I don't like you."

Vice President Harris mocked former President Trump.

At the Democratic National Convention last month, as she formally accepted the nomination as a presidential candidate, Ms. Harris said: "In many ways, Donald Trump is a frivolous man." Harris added, "But the consequences of Donald Trump's return to the White House are extremely serious."

The United States Supreme Court recently ruled that Mr. Trump and all future presidents of the United States have immunity from prosecution for actions related to their official duties, which Ms. Harris said would be problematic if Mr. Trump returns to the White House.

"Just imagine Donald Trump without limits and how he would use the unlimited power of the presidency of the United States. Not to improve your life, not to strengthen our national security, but to serve the only customer he has ever had, to himself."/ Voa