Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are getting set to square off against one another in their first debate this Tuesday. What should Americans expect from both candidates?
The debate will be hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia and moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis.
The last time Trump took the debate stage was on June 27, when he faced off against President Joe Biden, which eventually led to his decision to not seek a second term.
While he often is quick to retort, experts say it will be crucial for Trump to avoid getting into any shouting matches with Harris.
Trump has struggled to realign his campaign since Biden dropped out, as he now faces off against an entirely different opponent. Experts say that if he is able to eloquently answer questions and avoid responses like the one he gave last week when asked about childcare, he will come across as coherent and able.
During a stop in Wisconsin over the weekend, Trump took a shot at Harris for preparing for the debate while also saying it doesn’t matter how he does, the media will criticize him either way.
“If I destroy her in the debate, they’ll say, ‘Trump suffered a humiliating defeat tonight,’” Trump said Saturday in Mosinee, Wisconsin.
The last time Harris debated another candidate was during the 2020 election, when she and then-Vice President Mike Pence squared off on Oct. 7, 2020.
In what many say is her first test as the Democratic nominee, Harris is expected to try and come across as the more sensible and grounded candidate as she tries to appeal to those in the middle.
Recently, much of her campaign has been focused on uniting the nation, something she touched on during a weekend stop in Pittsburgh.
“Look, it’s time to turn the page on the divisiveness,” Harris said. “It’s time to bring our country together, chart a new way forward.”
Experts say for Harris to win big, she will need to avoid any gaffs or misstatements that could stall the massive moment she’s had since announcing her campaign in late July.
Before, Trump hammered Biden for being too old to run, but now, the younger Harris can flip the script on the former president.
The debate is expected to be a factor for Americans as polling between the two continues to be tight.
The Hill and Decision Desk HQ’s national polling averages show that Harris continues to lead Trump by almost four points, though in battleground states, the gap is much smaller, according to CNN polling.