The first and perhaps only presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump featured a verbal exchange between the two candidates that was often very personal, with political arguments largely overshadowed by heated exchanges about characters and crowd size.
Political pundits, analysts and commentators noted that Trump often found himself on the defensive on issues such as abortion, while allowing Ms Harris to provoke him and deviate from his message. The vice president downplayed attendance at Trump’s rallies and suggested that American military leaders viewed him as a “disgrace,” while Trump often reacted angrily, declaring that she had no policies of her own and was the “worst vice president in the history of our country.”
After the debate, numerous Democratic strategists and officials applauded Ms Harris’s performance, while Republicans complained about the tone of the moderators’ questions and acknowledged that Mr Trump had missed opportunities to launch targeted attacks.
Here is a selection of the reaction.
“She was extremely prepared, she set traps, and he chased every rabbit down every hole instead of talking about the things he should have talked about. That’s the difference between someone who is well prepared and someone who is unprepared.” Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican who led Trump’s transition team in 2016, said on ABC.
“Harris has repeatedly tricked him into going off topic or sticking to his most unpopular positions. She has exceeded all expectations by telling her personal story and diving deep enough into politics, but also showing that she has what it takes to take on anyone,” said Caitlin Legacki, a Democratic strategist and former adviser to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
“I think Kamala Harris has exceeded the very low expectations that were intentionally placed on her,” Vivek Ramaswamy, the entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate for 2024, said on Fox News.
“When the debate focused on the border and the economy, Trump had the upper hand, but too often he took the vice president’s bait and let her get away with it. Although the vice president clearly got under President Trump’s skin, she offered little more than platitudes,” said Lance Trover, a Republican strategist who served as press secretary for Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota.
“Maybe men are too emotional to be president,” said Justin WolfersProfessor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan.
“Harris started a little hesitantly, perhaps because Trump’s attack style and fact-free presentation are very different from what he would do in the courtroom or the Senate. But she came into form with her response on reproductive rights,” said John Cameron Turner, the Kenneth M. Strange Director of Debate at Dartmouth College.
“Trump didn’t win the debate, but I think he won the election with an assist for ABC because it was so much on Harris’ side that it was off-putting. Voters saw Harris dodging every question that was even a little bit difficult and trying to erase her and Biden’s record,” said Hugh Hewittthe conservative radio presenter.
“Trump was ill-prepared and unfocused, missed many points and missed numerous opportunities to make charges against them (which ABC obviously didn’t want to highlight). He took a lot of bait. He had some good shots and points, but missed many opportunities,” said Guy Benson, political editor of the conservative website Townhall.com.
“Trump continues to stress that tariffs are the solution to a range of problems, without recognizing that they will worsen inflation and generate no revenue from China. Harris managed to turn the discussion on China against Trump by arguing that Trump has not been tough on the broader issues, including protecting U.S. manufacturing from Chinese competition in high-tech industries,” said Eswar Prasad, the former head of the China department of the International Monetary Fund.
“Harris played the long game in today’s debate, letting former President Trump spend 56 minutes referencing his relationships with Viktor Orban, Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin and presenting internet meme conspiracy theories about Haitian immigrants “eating dogs and cats” in Springfield, Ohio, before claiming Trump does not have the “temperament” to be president,” said Henrietta Treyz, managing partner and director of economic policy research at the consulting firm Veda Partners.
“I think the former president has done better debates. I think there were a number of missed opportunities where he could have ended her campaign, for example on the economy. He just had to lay out the price increases on gas, groceries and mortgages. I think that gives her life,” said Sam DeMarco III, councilman in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and chairman of the county Republican Party.
“Many Trump supporters are tuning in tonight to see the mask fall. The man who presented himself as strong and commanding is fidgety, easily rattled and looks small when challenged. There will be some truly surprised and disappointed Trump supporters after tonight’s performance,” said Alyssa Farah Griffinwho served as White House communications director during the Trump administration.
“It wasn’t even close. Vice President Harris has proven that she is the best choice to move our country forward,” said President Biden.
