Harris-Trump Debate | Conquering the Undecided

After some prevarication, the date of Tuesday, September 10, has been kept for the first debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Will they succeed in convincing the undecided? Here’s what to keep an eye on.

Pivot

The two candidates debate Tuesday night at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania is a key state for victory on November 5. Harris and Trump must focus on the voters who will make the difference: the undecided, the disengaged, the less politicized citizens of the swing states. “Because of the medium of television, it’s not so much the answers that you might read that matter, but everything that the candidates convey,” says political scientist Leonard Steinhorn of American University in Washington. “They have to create an emotional connection with the people in front of their televisions.” The importance of debates is sometimes questioned. But one only has to look at Joe Biden’s debacle to understand the potential impacts of a poor performance.

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Economy

For Americans, especially those in swing states, the economy remains top of mind. The issue dominated the last Trump-Biden debate in June. Harris is courting workers and has won the support of major unions. But Americans are still mindful of the inflation that has driven up the cost of living under the Biden-Harris administration. Donald Trump is also trying to appeal to the middle class, promising tax cuts and new tariffs on imports. But he may have to explain his promise to make the United States “the bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world” and to appoint billionaire Elon Musk – a major donor – to head a possible commission on government efficiency.

Law and order

Threats to democracy, the trial of Donald Trump, respect for the election results, gun control, illegal immigration: the questions surrounding law and order are numerous and opinions remain divided. The high number of migrants intercepted at the border is a subject of concern, particularly among Republicans – Harris will have to respond by trying to appease both swing voters on the right and Democrats on the left. The same goes for gun control or the role of police forces. The integrity of the vote and a peaceful transition are also a source of fear for moderate voters – while Trump portrays those convicted of the assault on the Capitol as “political prisoners.”

Reproductive rights

At least a dozen states are expected to vote on abortion access on November 5. Florida is among them, which will put a question to the ballot to extend the period when abortion is available in that state, from the current 6 weeks of pregnancy to the viability of the fetus, around 24 weeks. Trump, a Florida resident, said he would support the measure, before backing down. “He will have to do a balancing act of showing that he understands the concerns [particulièrement de l’électorat féminin]but he also has to appease anti-abortion conservatives, his base,” Steinhorn said. Despite what Trump has said, the terms of Roe v. Wade – The landmark abortion ruling, overturned in 2022, which allowed abortion until the fetus was viable – are supported by a majority of Americans, according to several polls.

Format

The vice president and former president will debate for 90 minutes, starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir will ask questions, with no audience present. Microphones are expected to be muted outside of speaking rounds. No topic has been revealed and this is the only confirmed presidential debate. ABC News is hosting it and it will air on its platforms, and on several other networks, such as CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, CBC News Network and CNN. ICI RDI and LCN will also have special broadcasts to follow the exchange. “Donald Trump is a performance artist, who understands television,” Steinhorn said. Kamala Harris, for her part, will have to seize the opportunity to make herself better known. “She has to use the skills she used in court, but understand that she is speaking to the American people through the camera, not to a jury,” he added.