The Latest: Harris and Trump are prepping for the debate but their strategies are vastly different
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are diverging sharply in the way they are preparing for Tuesday’s presidential debatewhich creates a confrontation that reflects not only two different visions of the country, but also two politicians who approach big moments in very different ways.
Harris spent the weekend at a historic hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, where she focused on crafting clear, two-minute answers, following the rules of the debate.
Meanwhile, Trump has publicly dismissed the value of studying for the debate, choosing instead to fill his days with campaign-related events.
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Here’s the latest news:
In a new Harris campaign ad, set to air on Fox News the day of the presidential debate, former Trump officials warn of the dangers of a second Donald Trump presidency.
The ad will air Tuesday in Philadelphia and West Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump lives.
It includes clips of former Vice President Mike Pence saying he won’t support Trump. Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, National Security Adviser John Bolton and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley all warned against the Republican.
The presidential debate begins Tuesday at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC.
When you ask Trump’s previous debate opponents what they were watching for Tuesday night (and we did), many say the same thing: Pay attention to what he says or does that Harris couldn’t possibly prepare for.
Trump is the ultimate wild card who has achieved enormous political success by ignoring the traditional rules of politics. He will say or do whatever he thinks is best at the time. And Harris, who has spent several days preparing for the debate, can’t plan for everything.
At this point, it’s hard to imagine Trump surprising anyone with new material. He’s praised dictators, talked about the size of genitals, suggested suspending the U.S. Constitution, and said Harris only recently “turned black.”
Trump’s own team doesn’t know what he’s going to do or say on any given day. That’s incredibly risky for Trump. But it also puts enormous pressure on Harris.
Republicans hope Trump will make immigration a defining issue of the debate.
The Republican Party has effectively condemned the Biden administration’s handling of illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border over the past four years.
Harris will be eager to remind voters that Trump helped torpedo a bipartisan immigration bill that would have done a lot to solve the problem. But generally, Harris will probably be defensive if the problem arises.
Democrats, on the other hand, want to focus on abortion.
Trump, of course, appointed three Supreme Court justices who later overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that protected a woman’s right to choose abortion. Trump has repeatedly said he was proud that Roe was defeated. But knowing that such a view is unpopular among many women, he has tried to moderate his stance on the divisive issue.
Harris won’t make that easy. To state the obvious: As a woman, she’s positioned to be a much more effective messenger on the issue than Biden was. And Trump can’t afford to lose many more female voters.
Obviously, there will be a clear gender dynamic on stage on Tuesday night.
The candidates – who never met in person before — are expected to remain behind their podiums Tuesday night. But Republicans are hoping Trump will avoid other provocations, such as pointing, shouting or otherwise approaching Harris in a way that could be off-putting to suburban women or other swing voters.
Harris, too, will face unique challenges related to her race and gender as voters weigh whether to make her the nation’s first female president. Some voters still say they’re uncomfortable with the idea. If she comes across as angry, she risks playing on racist clichés about black women.
While gender dynamics play a role, don’t underestimate the importance of the age difference either.
Harris is nearly two decades younger than the 78-year-old Trump. Age was seen as a political advantage for Trump when he faced the 81-year-old Biden, but the situation is now reversed for the 59-year-old Harris. If he wins, Trump would be the oldest American president ever.