The Kamala Harris-Donald Trump presidential debate outdrew the earlier Joe Biden-Donald Trump debate, reflecting the heightened interest in the campaign that followed Biden’s abrupt decision in July to quit the race. With the polls showing the election to be a toss-up, the Harris-Trump debate was seen as potentially pivotal moment in the campaign. Whether that proves to be true remains to be seen, but post-debate commentary and polls gave a decisive edge to Harris. She was able to lay out her positions on key issues while effectively countering Trump’s attacks. At the same time, she was able to lure Trump into spending much of his time talking about himself and past grievances rather than what he might do for voters if elected. Harris’s strategic goal was clear. She was seeking to solidify her base while reaching out to independent voters and disaffected Republicans. Trump’s appeals were pitched to his hardcore supporters, most clearly in his repeated attacks on migrants. A review of the post-debate coverage in the mainstream media revealed a clear verdict in Harris’s favor, noting that her “turn the page” appeal positioned her as the candidate of the future. Trump’s coverage was largely negative except on conservative news outlets which predictably praised his performance while accusing the debate moderators (ABC sponsored the debate) of siding with Harris. Although Trump and his campaign claimed he had won the debate, a more telling development was his refusal (at least for now) to accept Harris’s challenge for a second debate. For a fuller assessment of the post-debate coverage, you can sample the stories of a diverse set of outlets, such as CNN, New York Times, MSNBC, and Fox.
