Staff Reports
Vice President Kamala Harris has been playing the coy challenger lately, taking every opportunity to nudge former President Donald Trump about his hesitance to debate with her face-to-face. As the crowds cheer her on, she reminds them that with criticisms out there, he should step up and deliver them directly to her. It seems Harris is testing the waters ahead of their showdown scheduled for September 10, hosted by ABC. The stage is set for what promises to be an entertaining exchange of barbs, with both nominees trying to score political points by throwing their best punch lines.
However, much is at stake for both candidates in this much-anticipated debate. Harris has an advantage in the form of her status as the Democratic nominee. Still, she will need to clarify her confusing policy positions in a campaign that has yet to gain any traction. Taking the stage next to Trump is as much about defining him as it is about self-definition—a challenge for someone who has had a rocky road in the political arena, as evidenced by the previous failures of her boss, Joe Biden, who ended his campaign before handing her the nomination.
From Biden to Gabbard, here’s what Harris’ past debates show before a faceoff with Trump https://t.co/3AjpEtkKvC pic.twitter.com/dF8RY1i4He
— The Oakland Press (@TheOaklandPress) August 13, 2024
For Harris, who has marketed herself as a skilled debater, the event offers a crucial chance to demonstrate her abilities. While she has had moments of brilliance in past debates, she also carries a history of struggles that may be hard to escape. Observers remember her spirited attacks during her previous presidential bids, particularly her takedown of Biden over busing policies. That little theatrical moment bolstered her image, but will it hold up under the heavier scrutiny of a debate against Trump?
On the other hand, Trump faces scrutiny of his own. Expectations are sky-high following Biden’s embarrassing debate performances that showcased a plethora of false statements going mostly unchallenged. While many hope for a spirited exchange, the reality is that, yet again, the stakes will be high; Trump will need to strike a balance between maintaining his bravado and addressing any blatant inaccuracies that may arise.
The history between Harris and her opponents has not always been rosy. During her candidacy in 2020, she faced a brutal attack from fellow Democrat Tulsi Gabbard regarding her prosecutorial record—which many speculated caught her off guard. Gabbard’s charges of Harris sending thousands to jail for petty drug offenses led to a volley of laughter from the audience at Harris’s expense. Now, with the world watching, there are questions of whether Harris has learned from her past missteps, especially with the prospect of Trump unleashing a torrent of criticisms on her.
It promises to be a spectacle filled with political theatrics rather than the substantive discourse voters are supposedly yearning for. Yet, for all the bravado coming from the Harris camp, the lingering question remains: can she hold her ground against the tumultuous waves of Trump’s rhetoric while also shuttering the endless stream of jabs from critics within her party? Given the track record, the upcoming debate might provide the entertainment—if not the clarity—America didn’t know it desperately needed.
