2024 Debate: Prosecutor Harris Puts Convict Trump on Trial
Special Edition 008
To think that Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have only shared the same room once before is almost as baffling as Trump’s debate performance. This debate wasn’t likely to shift allegiances overnight, but it could very well sway voters to the polls—or push them away. With momentum recently swinging from Harris back to Trump, she faced a steep climb to convince voters she was both the sensible candidate and the one with policies worth backing.
So, kudos to David and Linsey for moderating in a way that made this debate more than just a shouting match—your efforts didn’t go unnoticed.
Harris managed to turn in a performance that was more of a victory in some aspects than others, but she definitely had a strong showing overall. Don’t just take my word for it; even swing-state voters seem to agree. In this newsletter, we’ll dive into five key takeaways from their face-off and grade their performances. Buckle up—this recap dives into how each candidate fared and what this debate could mean for the race ahead.
#1: There Is No Change Candidate
“We need a leader who knows that strength comes not in beating people down but in lighting them up. I will be that leader.”
— Vice President Kamala Harris
From the moment the debate began, both Harris and Trump tried to don the mantle of the "change candidate," a role many American voters seem desperate for. However, given one is a former president and the other the sitting vice president, their attempts at reinventing themselves as agents of transformation faced an uphill battle.
Harris wasted no time attacking Trump for his “same old, tired playbook,” while Trump tried to cast Harris as nothing more than a continuation of President Joe Biden’s administration, accusing her of merely copying Biden’s plans, particularly on the border and the economy. They were both vying for the "change" title, but neither made a compelling case. Trump’s incoherent ramblings and habitual lying didn’t do him any favors, and Harris didn’t bring anything particularly groundbreaking to the table.
#2: Trump Is Still Running Against Biden
“It’s important to remind the former president, you’re not running against Joe Biden; you are running against me.”
— Vice President Kamala Harris
Throughout the debate, Trump seemed stuck in a time warp, unleashing attacks on Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities, policies, and “divisive presidency.” It was as if Trump had forgotten he was running against Kamala Harris, not Joe Biden. Harris took the opportunity to remind Trump, with a mix of frustration and finesse, that he was indeed running against her.
Either Trump’s debate prep team was stuck in a Biden-centric fantasy or they underestimated Harris’s capacity to distinguish herself from Biden. Which is not necessarily a baseless thought as throughout the campaign she has struggled in doing so. But either way, it was a bad look for Trump and gave Harris a chance to make a sharp, memorable point.
#3: The Harris Debate Prep Team Deserves an Award
“Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people ... And clearly he is having a very difficult time processing that.”
— Vice President Kamala Harris
Harris was winning before the debate even began—greeting Trump with a handshake and a faux display of goodwill. During the debate, she hit her stride early, all of the work she did with a Trump stand-in for this debate was proving to be well worth it. Even when the discussion veered into less favorable territory for her (e.g., the border or unconditional support for Israel), Harris maintained her composure while Trump fumbled through every trap she laid.
And even during moments of the debate where Harris was losing steam or handling policy issues that didn’t favor her (i.e. the border and the ongoing funding of Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people), she was able to stay on top as Trump seemingly walked over every landmine she set. Kamala hit all the pressure points even as Trump resorted to the tactics he’s most known for: rambling on tangents and deflecting from the question at-hand, and throwing out conspiracy theories and spreading lies. Maintaining a sound monologue paired with some decent jabs, she was successful in making sure she was seen as the sensible adult in the room.
Despite Trump’s rambling, conspiracy theories, and evasions, Harris’s steady, articulate responses and consistent baiting ensured she came across as the sensible adult in the room. And if she plays her cards right this dominant performance could provide a significant boost for her campaign.
#4: The Republican Party No Longer Wants to Win
“They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats.”
— former President Donald Trump
Lately, the Republican Party seems to have a penchant for losing—just look at their continued championing of Kari Lake and Trump himself, despite his previous defeat. Last night, it felt like the Republicans were determined to throw this race. As Trump spiraled, he failed to capitalize on his usual strengths and potentially harmed his campaign and the party’s future prospects.
When confronted about his history of racism, Trump doubled down, labeling the Central Park Five as “guilty.” Wild right? But his most damaging moments came during the abortion discussion. When asked if he would veto a bill codifying Roe v. Wade, Trump not only dodged the question but also threw his running mate JD Vance under the bus. More critically, Trump’s dismissal of Harris’s call for universal reproductive rights and his finger-pointing at Republican gridlock in the Senate and House further tanked his chances and the party’s prospects down ballot.
Trump’s propensity for lying, even by his own standards, was on full display. CNN reported that Trump made over 30 false claims during the debate. His blatant fabrications and disjointed rambling were hardly the signs of a winner.
#5: Trump is the New Biden
“We need two things. We need walls. We need—and we have to have it. We have to have borders. And we have to have good elections. Our elections are bad.”
— former President Donald Trump
While Kamala Harris shone brightly, the debate spotlight was squarely on Trump—but not in a flattering way. It almost felt like a reversal of the Biden-Trump debate from June.
Harris emerged strong, leaving many questioning Trump’s viability. Although Trump isn’t likely to step aside for JD Vance (who’s far too unlikeable to save the day), his performance could spell trouble for him in crucial swing states with undecided voters.
Trump’s name recognition is off the charts, making it even harder for him to win over uncommitted voters. His inability to hold his own against Harris, coupled with his post-debate spin room antics, suggests his campaign might be in serious trouble. If Harris’s team is smart, they’ll continue to highlight Trump’s decline into the “old candidate” territory with questionable cognitive abilities.
Will Harris’s Dominant Debate Affect the Race?
Despite Harris seemingly being setup for failure—with Harris’s occasionally awkward charisma and her lines often coming across as overly rehearsed—Trump fell into nearly all of her traps. Kamala emerged as the clear victor of the debate, proving her debating chops and showing that she can, indeed, take on Trump.
Harris managed to present herself as the more presidential of the two, but on substantive policy issues, both she and Trump remained firmly entrenched in their positions. This debate turned out to be more of a showcase for Harris’s prosecutorial skills rather than a platform for new policy revelations. The spectacle was intriguing, but it's debatable whether it will have a significant impact on the presidential race.
In the grand scheme, platitudes and rehearsed rhetoric are unlikely to energize voters. The American public's opinion on Trump is already set in stone, and no amount of debate theater will change that. If anything, Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala is likely to sway more voters than this debate ever could. Nonetheless, Harris and the Democrats have seized the moment, raising a whopping $45 million in 24 hours on debate day. The Harris-Walz campaign has already called for a second debate, capitalizing on their win and ensuring the momentum continues..
Performance Scores
👍 Kamala Harris: 8/10
Kamala Harris delivered a standout performance last night, exceeding expectations and demonstrating a command of the debate that was notably lacking in the previous Biden-Trump face-off. While many try to address every lie and diversion from Trump—a pitfall Biden fell into—Harris adeptly sidestepped this trap. Unfortunately, she maintained her controversial stances on border security and unconditional support for Israel, proving she’s not budging on these issues and that could be costly.
Harris met a crucial benchmark for her campaign, but whether this performance will significantly alter her standing in the race remains to be seen. One thing is clear: the race is likely to stay tight.
👎 Donald Trump: -6/10
Trump's performance was a masterclass in how not to debate, a debate performance on par with Biden’s June disaster. He meandered through nonsensical tangents and dodged questions from the moderators, despite their persistent attempts to pin him down. His inability to leverage areas where he was expected to excel was particularly striking. It was almost comical to see him rant about migration and immigration, except during the designated segment on the issue.
Trump’s compulsion to have the last word did little to salvage his performance—in fact, it might have been better if he’d kept quiet. His performance handed Harris the momentum and reinforced why he’s such a divisive figure. Fortunately for Trump, the race remains as tight as ever, despite his best efforts to remind everyone of his most controversial traits.