Like a lioness toying with her prey, Harris baited Trump into exposing his vulnerabilities. In plain English, the debate stage became a battlefield where Harris emerged victorious, but history reminds us—Trump has turned losses into victories before, and the final act of this drama is yet to be written.
Kamala
Harris had the audience hooked like a skilled angler during her recent debate
with Donald Trump on September 10, 2024. If debates were about sharp lines and
catching your opponent off guard, Harris surely performed a masterclass. Trump,
known for speaking his mind with little regard for formal debating tactics,
walked right into her well-laid traps, much like he did in 2016 with Hillary
Clinton. Yet, as history has shown us, a debate win doesn’t always translate
into an election victory. This 2024 election, pitting Harris against Trump,
promises to be one of the most fiercely contested in recent memory.
Harris
came prepared. Her strategy during the debate was clear: push Trump’s buttons,
let him veer off-topic, and make him defend himself rather than attack her.
Trump, in typical fashion, took the bait. From bringing up an old and debunked
tale about immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, to repeatedly talking
about the popularity of his rallies, Trump found himself on shaky ground.
Harris, in contrast, stayed on message, deftly avoiding Trump’s attempts to
rattle her, even poking fun at his beloved rallies. "Attend one of his
rallies," she said, "and you’ll see people getting up and leaving.
The one thing you won’t hear him talk about is you."
This
wasn’t just a jab; it was an expertly laid rhetorical trap, and Trump fell for
it. His retort was filled with bluster: “People don’t go to her rallies...
she’s busing them in and paying them.” For Trump, who prides himself on his
connection with his audience, the suggestion that people were walking out of
his rallies hit home. Harris made him look defensive, not the bold, brash
leader his base adores.
But
this debate wasn’t about Harris versus Trump alone. Much like in 2016, when
Hillary Clinton clearly outperformed Trump in their debates, the results of the
debate may not necessarily predict the outcome of the election. Trump’s raw
style, which resonated with many voters in the 2016 election, still holds
strong appeal for his supporters. His debates with Clinton were often marked by
his unfiltered thoughts and dismissive attitude toward traditional debate
etiquette. Clinton, like Harris, prepared meticulously and bested him on
points. However, Trump’s supporters didn’t seem to care about debate
performance—they liked that he spoke directly to them, even if it wasn’t
polished.
Trump’s
2024 debate performance was no different. Whether talking about his past
dealings with the Taliban or his supposed health care plan that remained
ever-elusive, his answers were filled with his characteristic vagueness and
braggadocio. “I have concepts of a plan,” he said, shrugging off the question
of a replacement for Obamacare, as if ideas and concepts were enough to soothe
a nation’s healthcare woes.
Harris,
on the other hand, presented herself as the candidate of change, the one who
was “focused on the future,” as she said in her closing statement. Even though
her agenda felt hastily assembled at times, particularly on issues like child
tax credits and assistance for new homeowners, she projected a sense of
stability and readiness. She framed herself as the adult in the room, compared
to Trump’s more erratic demeanor. This is where her strength lay during the
debate: poise, preparation, and a clear aim to highlight Trump’s weaknesses.
But
make no mistake, Harris had her shaky moments. She appeared nervous in her
initial responses and stumbled when asked about the tragic deaths of 13
soldiers during the Afghanistan withdrawal. Her failure to express sympathy for
their families was a noticeable gap in her empathy, something she has often
been praised for in other areas. Trump seized the opportunity to hammer her,
yet even when he went on the offensive, it often felt like he was more focused
on his record than actually engaging with her. Trump seemed lost in the past,
repeatedly mentioning Joe Biden, as if he could somehow summon the president
back into the race.
Trump’s
nostalgic longing for Biden underscored one of the evening’s strangest
dynamics: while Harris was debating Trump, Trump seemed to be debating a ghost
of the past. His repeated criticisms of Biden left the audience wondering if he
had forgotten that his opponent was Harris, not Biden. As Harris reminded him,
“It’s important to remember, Mr. President, you’re not running against Joe
Biden. You’re running against me.” Trump’s response? To fall back into his
well-worn defense of his “respect” from world leaders, never quite engaging
with Harris’s point.
Despite
the clear contrast in their debate styles, both candidates demonstrated that
this election is not just a battle of personalities but a broader clash of
visions for America’s future. Harris, with her careful preparation, sought to
represent a forward-looking agenda, while Trump, with his bombastic
self-assuredness, tried to remind Americans of his tenure in the White House.
Both approaches have their strengths and their audience.
However,
Harris’s real victory in the debate might not be her performance but in
managing to bait Trump into playing her game. By focusing on him and his
record, she forced him into a position of defense. This strategy, in many ways,
mirrors Hillary Clinton’s in 2016. Clinton won the debates, but Trump won the
election, and there’s no reason to think the same outcome couldn’t occur this
time. Harris may have won the night, but as the saying goes, "It’s not
over until it’s over." Just as Trump outmaneuvered Clinton despite her
superior debate performances, he may yet have some tricks up his sleeve.
Instant
polls show that Harris impressed many viewers, particularly those who were
uncertain if she could take on a figure as forceful as Trump. But the question
remains: did she sway enough independent voters to secure victory in November?
Or will Trump’s loyal base, much like in 2016, propel him back to the White
House?
Only
time will tell. After all, in the grand theater of American politics, debates
are just the opening act. The real show, the election, is where the drama
unfolds. Harris may have won the debate, but if history is any guide, winning a
debate with Donald Trump is like dancing with a hurricane—it’s not about how
well you dance, but whether you can still stand when the storm passes.
And
who knows? Perhaps in this election, the storm has only just begun.
No comments:
Post a Comment