Debate between Harris and Trump planned for Tuesday

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump will face off in a debate on Tuesday evening, which could be a crucial moment in the campaign ahead of the US presidential election on November 5.

The two candidates have never met or even spoken on the phone, but on Tuesday they will stand behind lecterns a short distance from each other at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. They will bark at each other for 90 minutes while answering questions from ABC news anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis.

Tens of millions of Americans are likely to watch what may be the only debate of the campaign. The event takes place eight weeks before the official Election Day, but just days before early voting begins in some of the 50 U.S. states.

National polls show that the election is close, making it all the more important for both candidates to make their best case in the debate for the few voters who have not yet made up their minds. It's about returning Trump to the White House after he lost re-election to President Joe Biden in 2020, or promoting Harris, Biden's running mate.

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Democrats quickly coalesced behind Harris' candidacy when Biden withdrew his re-election bid in July after a rocky debate against Trump in late June and endorsed Harris as his successor. While Biden was trailing Trump when he ended his campaign, Harris is two to three percentage points ahead of Trump in numerous national polls.

A New York Times/Siena College poll released on Sunday showed Trump leading 48 percent to 47 percent nationwide. In three key swing states (Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania), Harris was ahead on average across multiple polls, according to the newspaper. In four other key states (Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina), the two candidates were tied.

It is expected that the seven hotly contested states will play a disproportionate role in determining the outcome of the election, since in the United States the president and vice president are not elected by a nationwide vote.

Rather, the election is held in 50 individual state contests, with electors in all but two states casting their Electoral College votes either for Harris and her vice presidential running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, or for Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance. The number of Electoral College votes for each state is determined by population, so the most populous states have the greatest influence.

The new Times-Siena poll shows that Harris has the most at stake when it comes to introducing herself to the American public: 28 percent of respondents said they need to know more about her, while only 9 percent said the same about Trump.

University of Michigan debate coach Aaron Kall told VOA, “Tuesday night will feature one of the most highly anticipated and consequential presidential debates ever. Trump is an experienced presidential debater, but has a history of making controversial remarks about his opponents on stage, which could distract from the more important focus on substantive policy issues.”

“Harris only entered the race in July and is still being defined by voters and the Trump campaign. She must show she can denounce Trump's first term and his recent actions,” he said. “Trump is a particularly effective counter and could employ a scorched earth debate strategy if he feels unfairly vilified on stage.”

Kall added: “Both candidates should highlight their compelling biographies and unique skills that make them particularly qualified to lead the country over the next four years.”

He said the two candidates must get voters comfortable with the idea of ​​them being president for the next four years and a permanent fixture on their television screens and in their living rooms.

Harris has been preparing for the debate at a hotel in Pittsburgh, in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania. She has held several mock debates with a Trump-like surrogate, complete with television lights and wannabe moderators asking her pointed questions.

Trump discussed political issues with his advisers and avoided fake debates.

On the debate stage, Harris and Trump will follow the same rules as in June. Each candidate's microphone will be muted when the other speaks. Each will have two minutes to respond to a moderator's question and the other will have one minute to respond.

Abortion rights, immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, crime rates in the United States and personal character are among the topics the ABC anchors are likely to address.

In the meantime, Trump and Harris were engaged in a long-distance battle.

Trump told Fox News commentator Sean Hannity last week that he let Biden speak at their June debate, adding: “I'm going to let her talk. There are people who say Biden is smarter than her. If that's the case, we have a problem.” Trump had often insulted Harris' intellect, saying she had “no idea what the hell she's doing.”

“Look, this is a dangerous woman,” he said. “You can't take the risk. You have no choice. You have to vote for me even if you don't like me.”

Harris also mocked Trump.

When she accepted her party's nomination for president at the Democratic National Convention last month, Harris said: “In many ways, Donald Trump is an untrustworthy man.” Harris added: “But the consequences of Donald Trump returning to the White House are extremely serious.”

The US Supreme Court recently ruled that Trump and all future US presidents are immune from prosecution for misconduct while in office in connection with their official duties. Harris said this could cause problems if Trump wins the presidency again.

“Imagine Donald Trump without guardrails,” Harris said, “and how he would use the immense powers of the president of the United States. Not to improve your life, not to strengthen our national security, but to serve the only client he's ever had: himself.”