For the first time, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will meet in person, offering millions of Americans a front-row seat to their highly anticipated debate. The Democratic vice president and Republican former president are set to square off in Philadelphia on Tuesday in what could be their only televised face-off before the closely contested 2024 election.
This high-stakes debate, hosted by ABC, comes after weeks of intense campaigning, following President Joe Biden’s decision to step aside as a candidate. With the election just months away, the debate will serve as a crucial test for both Harris and Trump.
Harris, 59, who has energized and unified the Democratic party, will now face an opponent who has publicly labeled her as “crazy” and has aimed racist and sexist remarks at her. The first female, Black, and South Asian vice president has closed Trump’s lead in the polls but still describes herself as the “underdog” in what is expected to be a tight race.
The stakes are high for Trump, 78, who is expected to take an aggressive stance in the debate. Harris’s candidacy has reshaped the election, making Trump the oldest presidential candidate in U.S. history. After Trump’s refusal to attend Biden’s inauguration, this will be the first time the two contenders meet face-to-face.
According to Erin Christie, a communications expert at Rutgers University, “This will be a pivotal moment for both candidates, with potential to reshape the election outcome.”
The debate venue, Pennsylvania, adds extra weight to the event, as it is one of the most fiercely contested battleground states.
Despite no agreement for additional debates, Tuesday’s event comes after both camps grudgingly agreed to have the candidates’ microphones muted while the other is speaking. Americans will be watching closely to see how the encounter plays out on stage.
‘A Defining Moment’
Political debates, though sometimes unpredictable in their effect on polling, have the potential to shift momentum in an election. Just months ago, Biden dropped his reelection bid following a disastrous debate performance, which raised concerns about his age and capabilities.
Biden will be watching the debate closely, according to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “The vice president is smart and knows how to get the job done,” said Jean-Pierre, who previously worked with Harris during her 2020 presidential campaign.
Both candidates have one goal: appealing to undecided voters in a deeply polarized country.
Harris is expected to use her prosecutorial style to take on Trump, a convicted felon currently facing charges related to his attempt to overturn the 2020 election. However, she will have to navigate the racist and sexist tropes often directed at her, particularly the “angry Black woman” stereotype, according to political scientist Rebecca Gill from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Trump’s challenge will be to balance his fiery rhetoric, which energizes his base, with the need to appeal to a broader audience.
All eyes will also be on the debate moderators, who will be tasked with fact-checking Trump’s statements, given his history of making false claims during debates.
“This debate could be one for the history books,” said Andrew Koneschusky, a former press secretary for Senate leader Chuck Schumer. “Grab your popcorn.”
