The presidential debate accomplished more for Harris than it did for Trump
Summary
William A. Galston and Elaine Kamarck at Brookings discuss the importance of presidential debates in addressing voter concerns, highlighting Kamala Harris's effort to define herself and correct misconceptions about her political stance and capabilities.
The commentary asserts that Donald Trump's debate performance was inconsistent, often veering off-topic and failing to broaden his appeal beyond his base, indicating a potential challenge for his campaign in attracting new supporters.
Overview:
This article was written by William A. Galston and Elaine Kamarck at Brookings.
- Kamala Harris used the debate to introduce herself to voters, emphasizing her middle-class background and experience as a prosecutor.
- Donald Trump focused on separating himself from his party's extreme policies and addressing key voter concerns like the economy and abortion.
Key Quotes:
- “From the very first minutes of the debate, it was clear that she knew she had to define herself and that she did—as a child of the middle class who, in contrast to Trump, was not given $400 million to start a business.”
- “Trump tried to distance himself from the extremes, arguing that he would approve of abortions for rape and incest and even going so far as to say the Florida six-week ban is too short.”
What They Discuss:
- Kamala Harris faced three main challenges: introducing herself to unfamiliar voters, explaining her shifting positions on key issues, and proving her capability to serve as president.
- Harris consistently brought up her prosecutorial background to counter claims of being weak on crime.
- Trump needed to convey he wasn't obsessed with conspiracy theories and to appeal to swing voters.
- Trump’s repeated focus on illegal immigration highlighted a core issue for his campaign but may have limited his broader appeal.
- Abortion emerged as a particularly controversial topic, with Harris attacking restrictive state policies and Trump attempting to moderate his stance.
What They Recommend:
- Harris should continue defining herself clearly to voters and emphasize her prosecutorial experience.
- Trump should stick to script on key issues like the economy and avoid deviating into conspiracy theories.
- Both candidates need to clarify their positions on contentious issues like abortion and immigration to appeal to undecided voters.
Key Takeaways:
- Kamala Harris' debate performance likely energized her supporters and further introduced her to voters who didn't know her well.
- Trump's focus on illegal immigration and attempts to moderate his position on abortion had mixed success in broadening his appeal.
- The debate could boost Harris' campaign, but the final outcome will depend on continued voter engagement and state-specific efforts.
This is a brief overview of the article by William A. Galston and Elaine Kamarck at Brookings. For complete insights, we recommend reading the full article.