Kamala Harris is preparing for her “do or die” debate against presidential candidate Donald Trump on Tuesday by practicing against an aide wearing an orange wig, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
The US vice president has been intensively preparing all week for the 90-minute debate in Philadelphia, which many believe will determine the outcome of the presidential election in November.
Ms. Harris has been holding mock debates twice a day in front of a room full of advisers, with her close aide Philippe Reines playing the part of Mr. Trump, complete with an orange wig and high-soled shoes that make him the same height as the 6-foot-3 former president.
A well-informed source told the Mail on Sunday: ‘Kamala knows this is her do or die moment. You only have to look at the first debate and what happened with Joe Biden to know how high the stakes are.
“She’s a smart woman, a former prosecutor, so preparation is everything to her.”
Kamala Harris (pictured in March) will take on Trump head-to-head on Tuesday, September 10
Massachusetts Rep. Jimmy Davidson wears a Donald Trump-style wig at the 2016 RNC
President Biden was forced to withdraw from the presidential race after a disastrous defeat to Trump in a June debate, which exposed him as old and infirm, and prompted supporters like George Clooney to demand that he step aside in favor of Ms. Harris.
Trump’s replacement, Mr Reines, is a former senior adviser to Hillary Clinton and is considered “one of the smartest Democrats around”.
The source said: “The Dems used to follow Michelle Obama’s mantra of ‘When they go low, we go high,’ but now the gloves are off. Kamala is being prepared to poke the bear.”
‘The focus was on how Trump could lose his temper on live television, in front of millions of people.
“Philippe is a brilliant strategist. It may sound strange to say that he wears a wig and high boots, but it’s about getting Kamala 100 percent ready.
“The candidates will be on stages. Philippe wants her to know exactly how big Trump will look.
Trump is obsessed with people teasing him about his small hands, so prepare for a joke about that.
‘Kamala will attack him for all the crazy things he said, like talking about the ‘late, great Hannibal Lecter.’
“It’s unlikely she’ll call him President Trump, even though that’s a courtesy given to all former presidents. The team is working on zingers about Trump as a convicted felon and how she, as a lawyer, put men like him away.”
Incredibly, Ms Harris and Mr Trump – who are neck and neck in the polls – have never met or spoken and have only been in the same room once before, for his State of the Union address in 2018.
“We’re going into the unknown,” the source said. “They’re both fighting for the soundbite that goes around the world.”
Ms. Harris is likely to bring up last year’s civil lawsuit, in which Trump was found guilty of sexually assaulting writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of raping her in a department store fitting room.
Karoline Leavitt, the former president’s spokesperson, confirmed that he had no debate training whatsoever.
“Trump is obsessed with people teasing him about his small hands, so be prepared for a joke about that,” a source told the Mail on Sunday (Trump pictured in New York City on September 6)
Trump, pictured earlier this year during a debate with Joe Biden, is said to be looking to brush up on his past during ‘policy sessions’
‘President Trump has proven to be one of the best debaters in political history, as evidenced by his knockout blow against Joe Biden.
‘He knows the subject inside out, regularly enters into discussions and answers questions from hostile media on an almost daily basis.’
Trump memorably followed Hillary Clinton around on a debate stage in 2016, hovering over her as she answered questions in a way she said “gave me chills.”
A source at ABC, which is hosting Tuesday’s debate, said: “Most people think whoever wins will be the next president. Harris is under pressure to outperform.
“It comes down to temperament. Can he keep his temper and can she look presidential?”
