Vice President Kamala Harris has frequently criticised her opponent’s hesitancy to debate, addressing lively crowds and highlighting Donald Trump’s remarks about her: “As the saying goes, if you’ve got something to say, say it to my face.”
After initially backing out, Trump decided to meet Harris on 10 September for an ABC-hosted event. This sets up a long-awaited confrontation between the Democratic and Republican nominees, giving them a chance to directly exchange their attack lines.
Sharing a stage with Trump offers Harris a crucial opportunity to define herself and her opponent in a short campaign, with many questions about her policies still open. However, it also poses a significant test, one that President Joe Biden failed so badly that he ended his campaign for her.
Harris, a former San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general, has long showcased her debating skills as a strength, producing many career highlights with her sharp questioning of opponents. Yet, she has also had testy exchanges that didn’t fare as well.
Aaron Kall, director of the University of Michigan’s debate programme, noted that Harris has had a good rollout recently, which naturally raises expectations for the debate. He added that Biden’s poor performance in the first debate sets a low bar, but her debate history is mixed.
Trump also faces high expectations. Biden’s disastrous performance overshadowed the former president’s falsehoods — from lies about the Jan. 6 riot to misleading claims about abortion and immigration — that went unchecked during the debate.
One of the highlights of Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign was her critique of Biden, who later chose her as his running mate. She criticised Biden for opposing busing to integrate schools in the 1970s, sharing her own experience, “That little girl was me.” This memorable moment was planned, with her campaign posting the phrase on social media alongside a childhood photo.
However, Harris faced a low moment in a subsequent debate when former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii attacked her prosecutorial record. Gabbard accused Harris of jailing over 1,500 people for marijuana violations and blocking evidence that could have freed an innocent man from death row until the courts intervened.
Gabbard later expressed surprise at Harris’ lack of preparation for the debate, noting that she found the issues she raised through simple online searches. Gabbard said Harris’ failure to respond or justify her record was disrespectful to voters.
On the debate stage, Harris attempted to dismiss Gabbard, stating she was proud of making decisions and doing the work rather than just giving speeches. Post-debate, Harris called herself a “top-tier candidate” and suggested Gabbard was polling at a very low percentage. In a later debate, Harris criticised Gabbard for spending years on Fox News criticising President Obama. Ironically, Gabbard remained in the presidential race longer than Harris.
Harris first gained national recognition for her verbal agility while questioning Trump’s nominees for attorney general, William Barr, and Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh. She forced Kavanaugh to admit he couldn’t think of any laws giving the government control over male bodies, highlighting the issue of abortion rights.
Kall of the University of Michigan noted that Harris’ 2020 debate against Republican Vice President Mike Pence was well-received, with her memorable retort, “Mr. Vice President, I am speaking,” when Pence interrupted her. She repeated this line recently when protesters interrupted her at a rally near Detroit’s airport. Initially accommodating, Harris then said, “I am speaking now,” drawing applause before adding, “If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking.”
“Abandon Biden,” a progressive group opposing the president’s re-election bid over his Israel policy, criticised Harris’ response as disdainful towards citizens pleading for an end to a genocide.
Cullen Tiernan, who was a spokesperson for Gabbard’s 2020 campaign, saw parallels between Harris’ debate reaction to Gabbard’s criticisms and the interruption in Michigan, but not favourably. As a progressive, Tiernan looks for change and empathy, not gaslighting or dismissing reality.
Gabbard expressed hope that a Trump-Harris debate would highlight the significant differences between the candidates, emphasising the need for substantive debate over political theatre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
When is the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump?
The debate is scheduled for September 10 and will be hosted by ABC.
What is a major challenge Harris faces in the debate?
Harris faces the challenge of defining herself and her policy positions while handling high expectations.
How has Harris performed in past debates?
Harris has had both strong performances, like her questioning of Kavanaugh, and weaker moments, such as her exchange with Tulsi Gabbard.
What was a memorable moment from Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign?
A memorable moment was when Harris criticized Biden for opposing busing, highlighting her own experience with it.
What criticism did Tulsi Gabbard have about Harris’ debate preparation?
Gabbard criticized Harris for being unprepared to respond to questions about her prosecutorial record and for not addressing them.
