Kamala Harris Passed a Big Test
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The debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is a pivotal moment in the US presidential election — one with potentially historic consequences.
The shares have been especially high for Harris. Although she has been vice president for nearly four years, Harris remains a Relatively unspecified quantity for many American voters. She only became the Democratic nominee in July, after Joe Biden belatedly decided not to seek a second term. Memories of Biden’s disastrous performance in his own debate with Trump more than 10 weeks ago—which effectively forced him out of the race—underscore the potential risks to Harris had a poor performance in the late stages of the campaign.
Harris did not win the nomination through the usual vetting process of a primary. Nor did she give many interviews. Trump and Republicans have claimed that her campaign shielded her from scrutiny because she was a lightweight who would not be able to function without a teleprompter. Some Democrats may have secretly feared that was true.
During the event, Harris gave a perform confidently and fluently in the debate — demonstrating that she is strong under pressure, articulate and quick to communicate. These are all qualities that make her a much more credible candidate for president.
The vice president’s performance wasn’t perfect. She initially appeared nervous, and her initial answers about the economy were evasive and clearly scripted. But as the debate progressed, Harris grew more confident — and she delivered strong answers on important questions like abortion and the future of American democracy.
Above all, Harris was unfazed by her opponent’s predictable aggression. Instead, it was Trump who appeared increasingly confused and out of control.
Unfortunately, the Republican nominee making wild and false claims is nothing new. But even by his own low standards, Trump had a bad night. He claimed that there are states in the US where babies are “executed,” and that in other places, illegal immigrants are eating pet cats and dogs.
Trump also twice refused to say he wanted Ukraine to win its war against Russia, saying only that he wanted the war to end. The foreign leader he criticized was Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán — an autocrat who has undermined the free press and independent judiciary in his country.
In its own way, Trump’s performance in Tuesday night’s debate was as disastrous as his rambling attempt to force Biden out of the race. But the Trump cult has long held their hero to different standards than the average politician. Few of them are likely to be able to break away from him now.
Harris will be hoping that her strong performance in the debate will win over the small but important number of undecided voters in swing states who will ultimately decide the outcome of this election. In the coming days, polls, while unreliable, will provide some indication of whether Harris (or even Trump) has made a difference after the debate.
Regardless of what the polls say, it’s clear that this could be a very close election. election that will still be a tight competition until the final votes are cast on November 5. Harris should use the confidence she and her team will gain from the debate to run a more aggressive and open campaign. She has proven herself to be a strong improvisational performer. She needs to make herself more visible to voters. And her team should push hard for a second debate with Trump — if he is willing to risk it.
