Following a tumultuous debate with Kamala Harris, Donald Trump found himself seeking a rebound with only 54 days remaining till the elections. Despite the start of early voting in some states like Alabama, Trump’s performance on stage seemed to demand a strategic reset. Rewinding back to only a few months ago, Trump seemingly had the upper hand, witnessing President Joe Biden’s faltering and uncoordinated performance that led to Biden stepping back from his reelection bid and declaring Harris as his successor.
After Tuesday night’s debate, Trump, at 78, found himself on the back foot while Harris, at 59, appeared to establish a sense of control over the course of the discussion. The former president was seen struggling with Harris’ provocative remarks. Even Pennsylvania’s former Republican Rep. Charlie Dent, who is known for his critical view of Trump, noted on CNN how this could be seen only as a comprehensive victory for Harris.
As it turned out, Harris immediately declared her desire for a second debate, an idea pitched by Fox News to take place in October. However, Trump expressed his reluctance given his lack of approval for the suggested moderators. Through his Truth Social account, he argued that after such a cleanly claimed victory, there was no necessity for a rematch. Trump’s contention remained that he had outdone Harris, prompting the question – why go for a second round?
Trump crossed paths briefly with Harris on Wednesday, when they joined President Biden and other prominent figures to mark the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Despite sharing a handshake, it was apparent that the tensions from the debate stage hadn’t dissipated. Trump, in an astonishing move, turned up unanticipatedly in the post-debate discussion room, continuing to proclaim victory despite significant critique from the ABC moderators.
The former president continued his accusations of bias towards the ABC moderators, claiming his victory in the debate even while criticizing the networking channel. This was perhaps a subtle admission that the debate with Harris did not go as he had hoped. There were even online posts suggesting punitive action against ABC by stripping it of its broadcasting license.
However, Trump’s reiteration of his so-called victory stood at odds with the consensus among political commentators, strategists across party lines, and first-hand responses from viewers. An evidence of this incongruity was that the majority of debate-watchers asserted that Harris undeniably outperformed Trump.
Despite the general opinion in Harris’s favor, the debate did not seem to bring about significant shifts in viewer opinions. Reportedly, according to CNN’s quick poll, approximately 60% of viewers believed Harris outperformed Trump, while around 40% favored Trump. Interestingly, viewers were evenly split regarding who they believed would win the debate prior to it.
Following the debate, Harris greeted the crowd at a late-night rally in Philadelphia with an air of victory, while still portraying Democrats as the ‘underdogs’ against Trump. Furthermore, she managed to secure an endorsement from cultural and music superstar Taylor Swift, an influential figure with a large following.
Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire gave a more charitable view of Trump compared to others, conceding that by typical debate standards, Harris was the victor. However, he subtly suggested that she might have fallen short in persuading voters concerned about their economic well-being. He indicated that Trump still had the opportunity to influence voter opinions on critical issues such as the economy, immigration and foreign policy.
From the GOP’s perspective on Capitol Hill, where they’re trying to preserve their delicate House majority while flipping Senate control through a favorable run of contests, Trump’s showing in the debate was scrutinized. Communication directors for National Republican Senatorial Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee both expressed their concerns about voters’ perception of Harris due to her vacillating stances on issues.
Another key highlight from the debate was Trump’s remarks on healthcare. His false claims of rescuing the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as ‘Obamacare’, after vowing to repeal and replace it during his presidential campaigns, have now been used as ammunition by the Democrats. In yet another instance of his misleading promises, Trump pledged to replace the act with a better plan but upon being pressed he confessed to having no concrete proposal.
Recalling Trump’s past promises on healthcare, Dent, the former Pennsylvania Republican, underscored the former president’s lack of policy detail, indicating his seeming disregard of the impact on people. Dent’s recall seems to highlight the lack of policy substance during Trump’s tenure.
Looking at the aftermath of the debate, Governor Sununu suggested an alternative scenario, mentioning former Ambassador Nikki Haley. Haley was a GOP candidate in the 2024 primaries who continued to receive support even after she withdrew from the race. Sununu suggested that she would have fared well in the debate, shedding light on the Republican sentiment and perception of Trump’s performance.