A high-stakes debate is coming. Not only for specific political forces and for the USA as a whole, but also for our country. The results of the elections in the USA can significantly affect the foreign policy of the United States, in particular, its support for Ukraine in the context of the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The presidential administration in the USA determines the amount of military and economic aid to Ukraine, as well as the attitude to sanctions against Russia. Therefore, any changes in the leadership or in the political course can directly affect the level of support that Ukraine receives from the United States. Strong support from the new administrator could increase Ukraine’s chances of strengthening its position on the international stage, while instability or policy change could create additional challenges for Ukrainian diplomacy and security.
What keeps Democrats awake before the debate? – such a question is asked by the publication “The New York Times” and answers: that they can lose. Kamala Harris and her team are worried that the enthusiasm that has swept the Democratic forces after her nomination for the presidency will not ultimately translate into votes.
Why are Democrats nervous?
Harris has certainly improved the Democrats’ approval ratings among certain groups of voters, but she still hasn’t reached the level of traditional support that Biden has had in the past. Harris received 55% support from Hispanic voters, compared to 52% for Biden in June. However, this percentage is still lower than the level that Biden had in the previous, successful presidential race for him (65%). Some Democrats also worry that African-Americans may be more open to supporting Donald Trump this year, which could be the result of certain Trump strategies or a shift in voter sentiment. LaTosha Brown, a co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, expressed skepticism that Mr. Trump would be able to win significant support among these voters and said of the real risks: “My bigger concern is that these people may not vote in the right numbers.” Indeed, there is a difference between admiration for the ideas and actions of Democrats and the desire to actually support them with your votes during elections.
Debates usually do not decide winners, but today is a special case
Will the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump matter? – asks the issue of the publication The Economist and answers: “Usually presidential debates don’t make much of a difference, but this year is no ordinary year.”
Indeed, no debate has had as much impact on the election as the debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump on June 27. Biden showed disastrously weak results, which led to pressure on him from his own party to withdraw his candidacy. Replacing Biden with Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee has made the race more competitive for that political force.
It will be recalled that debates between candidates for the post of president became a common phenomenon only after 1960, when John Kennedy and Richard Nixon debated on television. Since then, debates as a form of communication between political opponents have gained a lot of attention from journalists and are considered extremely important for presidential campaigns. Candidates’ successful performances can significantly influence a politician’s support, while mistakes can become the main topics of a long discussion in the media, as actually happened with Joe Biden.
The well-known international publication “The Economist” recalls that the Americans already had the opportunity to assess Harris’ abilities as a debater. She debated Mike Pence in the 2020 vice presidential debate and won, according to polls at the time. Her career as a prosecutor has given her steely determination, which was evident in 2018 when, as a senator, she questioned Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court vetting. The publication suggests that if Ms. Harris can demonstrate the same skills against Mr. Trump, she may win more sympathy from Americans during this debate. And in this year’s tense race, this victory could be decisive for the course of the campaign.
The leading American publication “The Washington Post” believes that Harris and Trump are preparing for a debate that can define the rest of the campaign, first of all, because during this debate the candidates will gather the largest audience until the election day.
How did the candidates prepare for the debate?
Harris spent the days leading up to the debate at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, preparing to face her opponent in an intense “debate boot camp.” Her aides set up a mock debate studio, hired a seasoned understudy for Donald Trump to deliver vicious attacks and offensive comments, and walked the vice president through a barrage of questions she might face when communicating with Trump. Trump, for his part, spent most of the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, opting for “policy sessions” with aides and allies over traditional hands-on activities. The former president has attended about a dozen such sessions over the past few weeks, reviewing Harris’ political writing from her 2020 presidential campaign and practicing how to respond to the expected barrage of “character attacks.”
What will be the roles of the debaters
Edition “The Washington Post” writes that Trump will face an opponent who is expected to be much more serious on the debate stage and will provide a contrast not only to the weak Biden, who stumbled on certain words, but also to Trump’s often unstructured messages. As a former prosecutor and senator who built her national reputation in Senate hearings by aggressively questioning Trump’s appointees, Harris plans to use the same tactics during the debates, responding to any questionable statements Trump makes and trying to refute them in real time.
However, these plans were subject to certain limitations. Harris aides wanted ABC to change the rules by leaving both microphones on throughout the broadcast, hoping that would force Trump to go off script and allow Harris to deliver sharp responses. Trump agreed to this proposal, but his aides vehemently denied updating the format, telling the former president that the Harris team was trying to frame him in this way. After losing the battle for the microphones, Harris’ aides revised their strategy, hoping she would find other ways to fend off Trump’s attacks. In general, the Democratic candidate is ready for any “version” of Trump that will appear on Tuesday. Ideally, she expects the former president to be relatively disciplined.
More politics, less political controversy
Voters are clearly tired of the over-dramatization of this year’s political races.
“Follow the policy”, – says the Air Force, characterizing the expectations of Americans from the debate between Harris and Trump. The publication cites voters irritated by the debate rhetoric of Trump and Biden, and in general, the form of debate itself as a way to present the positions of opponents to the general public. The electorate sees debates as often just platforms for shouting and superficial jokes, rather than serious discussion of political ideas or realistic plans. Voters are hoping that Harris can avoid Trump’s negative style and maintain his upbeat and positive approach even when arguing with him. They expect from her not “impressions” of how to manage the country, but concrete plans for management, in particular, the elimination of the problem of poverty. The debate tends to be seen as a form of job interview, when candidates provide a complete picture of themselves and their further intentions and actions.
Can Harris impeach Trump?
Edition “The Guardian” considers it the key intrigue of this year’s race. For Harris, the debate could be an opportunity to fulfill her oft-repeated campaign promise: She will judge Trump on the terms of her presidency. Her political record — both in debates and in Senate hearings — suggests she is well-equipped to deliver on her intent. Indeed, the change in the Democratic candidate has confused Trump and his advisers, who have been unable to find effective methods of attack against Harris. The debate will give Trump his biggest opportunity to negatively position Harris in the minds of voters, as polls show very close ratings in key states. The Guardian mentions the key events in Harris’ career that highlight her particularities as a politician.
Is Harris an experienced debater?
Before becoming vice president, Harris served as California attorney general and as the state’s junior senator. During her campaign for the senatorial seat in 2016, her primary opponent was Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. During a debate in October 2016, Sanchez ended her speech with an unusual dance move. Harris responded with a restrained laugh, saying: “So there is a clear difference between the candidates in this race.” This was an effective means of highlighting the contrast between the candidates and helped her win the election.
After Harris became a senator, she quickly established herself as a tough interrogator. In particular, she questioned Jeff Sessions, Trump’s first attorney general, about his contacts with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign. He looked confused and nervous as he tried to answer, which emphasized Harris’ skills.
During a 2018 questioning of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Harris asked about his possible contacts with Trump’s law firm. Cavanaugh was unable to provide a concrete answer, which enhanced Harris’ status as a professional with relevant interrogation skills. Harris also had a positive experience of attacking Biden, in particular, she criticized him for his past statements on racial equality and transportation of children to schools. That performance in the June 2019 primary debate boosted her national profile, but Harris’ campaign subsequently tanked and she was forced to drop out of the race.
So Trump has reason to worry as he prepares for Tuesday’s debate. But Harris also has vulnerabilities that could help Trump in the debates and emerge as the frontrunner in this political race.
