The presidential debate on Tuesday night, held in Philadelphia, saw Kamala Harris, the Vice President, and Donald Trump, the former President, going head to head. Many Democratic representatives from Central Massachusetts couldn’t help but express their views via social media, a majority echoing praises for Harris and casting aspersions on Trump. James P. McGovern, Representative from Worcester, posted, ‘If you are listening to the Vice President, you’ll note that she is advocating for the middle class as well as restoring rights for all citizens. There’s no better choice!’
Rep. McGovern forwarded a series of scathing remarks about Trump, arising from Trump’s elusive responses regarding his willingness to veto a blanket ban on abortions and his vague reply to a Russia-Ukraine warfare question. In particular, he failed to unambiguously assert his support for Ukraine’s success in the conflict. The debate was largely viewed as a win for Harris by several political commentators and instant post-debate polls. This was a stark contrast to Joe Biden’s June 27 debate performance, which was considered a significant debacle.
The fallout from Biden’s poor performance had triggered a wave of fear about the prospects of Democratic success in the upcoming elections. Ultimately, the ripple effects led to Biden deciding to withdraw his re-election bid, and he endorsed Harris as his pick for the presidency on July 21. Lori Trahan, Representative from Westford, posted, ‘This evening’s discussion showcased two dramatically different outlooks for America’s future. We had Trump’s confusing, divisive, and chaotic ideas countered by Harris’s commitment to aiding each and every American.’
Harris’s candidacy seems to have rekindled the Democrat’s hopes for the White House, with fundraising efforts doing particularly well for the party. Harris’s approval rates are also on the rise. However, a handful of discouraging polls for Harris during late summer raised doubts whether her campaign was losing momentum. Specific concerns being raised by Americans included economic issues, immigration, and whether Harris could bring about a difference compared to the unpopular Biden.
Harris’s performance during the debate was hailed for being more composed and focused when compared to Biden’s performance the previous month. She was also commended for successfully luring Trump into a defensive stance, leading to responses that were, at times, challenging to comprehend. Trump revisited some of his usual talking points related to immigration, crime, and inflation, which prompted moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis to fact-check some of his claims in real time.
Maura T. Healey, Governor, also mentioned that the debate truly highlighted the stark differences between the two candidates. Healey shared on social media, ‘It’s quite clear from the debate: Kamala Harris cares about us, while Donald Trump is primarily interested in himself.’ Elizabeth Warren, Senator, also voiced her support for Harris. ‘Harris is the candidate we can put our faith in when it comes down to our families, our futures and our rights. Let’s strive to ensure she is elected the next POTUS,’ Warren expressed.
Senator Edward Markey declared Harris as the obvious winner of the debate. He took to social media and equated Harris’s win with the transformation that renewable energy is anticipated to bring to the fossil fuel industry. His post metaphorically suggested a total domination. This reaction from Massachusetts Democrats was a sharp deviation from the mood following Biden’s June 27 debate. Acknowledging the misleading claims from Trump, Rep. McGovern admitted Biden could have performed better in a conversation with the Telegram & Gazette.
Healey’s remark on Biden’s performance was no different. She described it as ‘hard to witness.’ State Senator Jamie Jamie Eldridge from Marlborough, who was one of the seven senators who had urged Biden to abandon the race in July, lauded Harris. He pointed out Trump’s misuse of inflammatory, inaccurate rhetoric during the debate to stir up division on topics such as abortion, immigration, and crime. Eldridge commended Harris for her composed demeanor in avoiding Trump’s provocations and exposing his deceptions, while explaining her plans for driving the country forward.
Still, not all local political figures were generous with their praise for Harris. John Deaton from Bolton, the Republican running against Warren in the upcoming Senate race, voiced his dissatisfaction with the overall debate. He provided a candid critique saying, ‘The debate merely managed to underscore the ongoing disorder plaguing our political system, a sentiment echoing the feelings of several Americans.’
As per Deaton, ‘The candidates relied heavily on character attacks, polarizing language, twisted truths and failed to offer viable solutions for addressing national issues. This style of politics is reminiscent of the tactics implemented by Senator Warren.’ An interesting development occurred when the Worcester City Council meeting overlapped with the debate. Etel Haxhiaj, District 5 City Councilor, shared on Wednesday her disagreement with Harris for advocating for the U.S. to possess the ‘most lethal’ military force in her closing remarks, and her calls for a tougher stand on Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Haxhiaj, a registered Democrat, lamented, ‘I yearn for a President who does not take pride in possessing an incredibly deadly military force and also seeks to halt atrocities against Palestinians, including the massacre of children.’ A refugee hailing from Albania, Haxhiaj made a humorous reference to Trump’s claim about immigrants consuming pets, by posting a photograph of her own feline and assured her followers that her cat is unharmed. She playfully declared, ‘My cat is very much alive. Although, I did enjoy a couple of hot dogs during the Coes Pond Family Fun Day held over the weekend.’
Despite the varying perspectives and sharp critique that emerged from the debate, it still highlighted the stark contrast between the visions of the two candidates for the country’s future. While some politicians criticized the debate’s acerbic undertones and felt that it demonstrated continued political dysfunction, others saw it as a necessary showdown between dramatically different policy directions. Whether this debate influences public opinion ahead of the election only time will tell.
Nevertheless, with all of the pointed critiques, colorful commentary, and intense media scrutiny following each debate, these public discussions underscore the significance of this democratic process. Whether they sway voters or merely engage public interests, they certainly bring the importance of active civic participation to the forefront. Regardless of the outcome, the importance of everyone’s involvement in the democratic process is a unifying thread in the nation’s ongoing political dialogue and a critical symbol of American democracy at work.