An unprecedented encounter is anticipated in the imminent 2024 race. Vice President Kamala Harris and ex-President Donald Trump will go head-to-head after an unexpected turn of events caused by the retreat of President Joe Biden from the race. Interestingly, this will be their first meeting, marking how drastically the circumstances have changed within the competition.
With Biden departing from the race, Kamala Harris seems to maintain an illusory foothold, while Trump hasn’t been successful in delineating a concrete case against her. The national polls, however, portray a picture that doesn’t tally with this perception, with Harris barely scraping an edge. Furthermore, the competition is tighter in several pivotal swing states that stand to make the final decision on who acquires the presidency.
Historical data, however, leads election forecaster Nate Silver to predict Trump as the favored to once again clinch the presidential title. Consequently, the closely-following race in Wisconsin becomes even more significant where Harris struggles to maintain her lead.
The ever-changing dynamics of the debate rules brought about by Biden’s withdrawal have left Trump and Harris teetering over decisions. As the race tightens, Harris finally conceded to silencing the commentary of the non-participating contender, a scenario that Trump seemed initially willing to accept. However, perhaps indicative of his underlying strategy, Trump ultimately adhered to the original debate terms he had finalized with Biden.
Avoiding any last-minute confusion, here are some crucial facts you should be aware of regarding the forthcoming debate. The first face-off between Harris and Trump is scheduled to occur at 9 p.m. ET on the upcoming Tuesday with a total airtime of 90 minutes, punctuated with two commercial breaks.
Moderating this consequential debate will be ABC’s David Muir and Linsey Davis, both experienced debate moderators who will be gracing the stage for their first-ever general election debate. Additionally, the contentious issue of muting mics has been resolved, with a candidate’s mic being silenced when it’s not their turn to speak.
However, the Harris campaign has insinuated that the muted mic format may be tactfully geared to protect Trump, suggesting it places the Vice President, a known focal point of satire, Harris, at a disadvantage with limited scope to directly engage with the ex-President. Yet, unwilling to gamble the debate’s prospects, Harris’ campaign has reluctantly agreed to adhere to these rules.
The upcoming debate presents deviations from previous norms as both campaigns have disregarded the long-standing Commission on Presidential Debates, an apparent snub to a bipartisan institution that has overseen presidential debates for decades. This deviation was spearheaded by the Republicans in 2022, and ironically, despite Trump’s well-known frugality of words, the absence of a live audience is glaring. According to Biden’s campaign, these moves along with the muted mics aim to prevent chaotic scenes akin to the infamous 2020 debate and elevate the level of discourse.
Without a concise theme for the debate night, it’s safe to speculate that questions on the economy, which consistently remains top of the voter’s issue list, will take center stage. Though once considered Trump’s stronghold, recent poll data suggests that Harris has cleverly chipped away at Trump’s advantage, effectively shifting the dialogue around economic management.
On Harris’s side, several proposals appear to have cut into Trump’s stronghold, such as offering as much as $25,000 to first-time homebuyers, a hefty $50,000 tax credit for small business owners, and even a proposal to slash capital gains tax for wealthy individuals earning above $1 million, a stark contrast against the White House’s 39.6% proposed top rate.
Trump, meanwhile, attempts to woo the masses with bold promises of regulation reduction and reminiscing about the pre-COVID economy under his rule. Recently, he voiced support for a quasi-US sovereign wealth fund; however, details remain vague, a common Trump tactic that keeps the audience in suspense with the anticipation of something grand.
Harris’ initiatives have even garnered praises from the analysts at Goldman Sachs, going against the popular inclination that suggests her economic plans will stimulate significant growth. In contrast, Trump’s proposition, particularly those revolving around tariff-fueled trade policies, could, in fact, lead to an economic contraction.
Nevertheless, Trump’s strategy remains focused on stopping Harris’ ascendancy by lambasting her political positioning and painting her as a far-left radical. To further propagate this narrative, the Trump camp has resorted to repeatedly slinging mud at ABC News, which he often accuses of bias. This is a familiar story, an attempt to stir the pot ahead of the debate and set a defensive foundation if results swing in Harris’s favor.
As for Harris, her intention seems clear – she hopes to spark engaging debates and seize viral moments like the one that transpired during the 2020 vice-presidential debate against Mike Pence. In pursuit of another ‘I’m speaking’ moment, Harris has been prepping intensively in Pittsburgh, employing Philippe Reines, a veteran Clinton aide, to play Trump’s role in their mock debates.
Following the imminent Harris-Trump debate, the vice-presidential nominees Senator JD Vance and Governor Tim Walz are slated to conduct a debate on October 1 in New York City. Trump and Harris are expected to face each other again in another debate. Meanwhile, the stage is becoming set for the citizens to cast their vote with early voting kicking off in several crucial swing states.