American presidential debates are rarely won based on policy, according to a journalist who has covered six presidential elections. “I’ve never seen a debate where one candidate emerged as the winner because they made an outstanding policy proposal,” the journalist stated.
While moderators at Tuesday’s debate may ask Donald Trump and Kamala Harris serious questions about tax cuts and foreign affairs, the moments that capture viewers’ attention are often when a candidate delivers a sharp line, rattles their opponent, or simply appears more composed.
This explains why, according to a Trump adviser, the former president hasn’t spent much time preparing policy responses. Instead, he’s been “fine-tuning the theatrics of his performance.” Having participated in six previous presidential debates, Trump is well aware of how to engage television audiences.
For Kamala Harris, this presents a challenge. As this is her first time on a presidential debate stage, she hasn’t had much practice. “It’s hard to become a world-class performer in a couple of weeks,” the journalist pointed out. Unlike Trump, Harris has been holed up in a Pennsylvania hotel, studying policy. However, her team has also worked on preparing her for the visual and theatrical aspects of the debate.
The Harris camp has built a mock debate stage, complete with podiums and lighting, and top advisers are playing the role of Trump—one reportedly even dressing in his signature boxy suits and red ties. They’ve been analyzing footage from Trump’s previous debates to see what works against him.
Despite all the preparations, a recent New York Times poll has unnerved Democrats. The poll showed a close race between the candidates, with a significant number of voters saying they don’t know enough about Harris. “One Democratic strategist texted to say they are nervous about the debate because they felt Ms Harris was tentative in a recent CNN interview,” the journalist noted.
Ask any of the Republicans who faced Donald Trump in the 2016 primary debates, and they’ll likely agree that being “tentative” isn’t a winning strategy against him. With the American public far more familiar with Trump than Kamala Harris, the pressure is higher for her going into Tuesday night’s debate.
One tactic Harris might employ to claim victory is ensuring Trump loses. Her team aims to rattle him, hoping to provoke him into being his most “Trumpian” self. They believe that if Trump behaves poorly, as he did in the 2020 debate against Joe Biden, it could cost him support.
Sources suggest Harris may use trigger words like “old” (as in “old ideas” or “old story”) and “small” (e.g., “small thinking” or “small beliefs”) to needle Trump, knowing he’s sensitive about his age and irritated by references to size.
However, it may be tougher to provoke him into rude interruptions this time, as the candidates’ microphones will be muted when it’s not their turn to speak.
Ultimately, debates are unpredictable, and until the event unfolds, it’s hard to gauge what a win might look like for either candidate. Just ask Joe Biden.
