The second presidential candidate debate of the United States election is held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening, September 10, Eastern Time.
This debate marks the first face-off between Vice President Harris and former President Trump, and it may be the only one before the election. The outcome of the debate is crucial for both candidates in their pursuit of the White House. 30% of registered voters say this debate will help them decide who to vote for.
The debate is moderated by ABC anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis and lasts for an hour and a half.
With less than 60 days remaining until the presidential election on November 5th, polls indicate that the two candidates are neck and neck, with seven swing states likely determining the winner of the White House. Even minor shifts in public opinion could alter the election results significantly.
President Biden’s poor performance in the June debate against Trump eventually led to him stepping aside, with Harris taking over.
Tuesday night’s face-off may reshape the election landscape.
The majority of voters will tune in on Tuesday night to watch the debate.
Key points of the debate between Harris and Trump.
New voting regulations in seven swing states.
Close to the election day, voters will evaluate Harris and Trump based on their personalities, policies, and experiences to choose their preferred presidential candidate.
Polls show that over a quarter of potential voters feel they still don’t know enough about Harris compared to Trump. Some states will begin early voting shortly after the debate.
According to reports from Reuters, Mitchell McKinney, a former advisor to the Presidential Debate Commission, stated that the debate could either gain Harris more support among voters unfamiliar with her or lead to losing more support.
Viewers will be looking for Harris’s stances on various issues. Equally important is how she responds to Trump.
In comparison, Trump is not a stranger to voters. McKinney said, “You either support him or oppose him.”
NPR/PBS/Marist polls found that 72% of registered voters plan to watch Tuesday night’s debate, with 30% considering it crucial in their presidential choice.
The latest polls indicate a tight race with Harris leading Trump by 49% to 48% among registered voters, according to the NPR/PBS News/Marist College poll released on Tuesday morning, September 10.
In a national poll by The New York Times and Siena College released on Sunday, September 8, Trump led Harris by one percentage point, within the margin of error. This suggests that either candidate winning the election on November 5th is well within expectations.
The debate on Tuesday will focus on several key points. Firstly, the candidates’ platforms and visions. A poll by USA Today/Suffolk shows that only 31% of Americans believe the country is on the right track, with 58% feeling it’s headed in the wrong direction.
In this election between the current Vice President and the former President, Harris and Trump both label themselves as “reformist” candidates set on changing the status quo.
Harris aims to build on President Biden’s achievements while distancing herself from the mistakes of the Biden administration, while Republicans link her with the controversial decisions of the past four years.
Secondly, can Trump appeal to swing voters without offending Harris? Although Trump’s campaign team advises him to focus on issues rather than personal attacks, his debate style may alienate some voters.
Trump mentioned during a campaign event in North Carolina in August that while people often advised him to be more friendly, “it’s sometimes hard to do when you’re constantly under attack.”
Lastly, who will win over the moments that spread fastest online during the debate? Over 50 million Americans tuned in to the live broadcast of the first presidential debate between Biden and Trump in June, with expectations for higher viewership on Tuesday. Afterwards, millions more will learn about the event through news reports and social media.
Many viewers won’t watch the full 90-minute debate, making certain key segments essential.
Additionally, how will Harris attack Trump and distance herself from certain policies of the Biden administration? She has been living in Pennsylvania since last week preparing for the debate and has hired lawyers to assist in her preparations. She may find ways to attract voters on topics like abortion and women’s issues.
Both parties are heavily focusing on seven swing states – Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia, and North Carolina – as they could ultimately decide the White House winner.
Liz Avore, a senior advisor at the nonpartisan Vote at Home Institute tracking election-related laws, noted, “Since 2020, we’ve seen every state in some form adjust their election systems. So, that in itself is a very significant trend.”
“This year’s elections in many places are unlike those in 2020,” she added.
For example, Michigan and Nevada have added more voting channels; Pennsylvania has added some but also imposed strict limits on the deadline for mailing ballots. Arizona has seen few changes, while some voting channels in Wisconsin have become stricter. Georgia has remained mostly the same, and North Carolina’s voting channels have become stricter.
Democrats generally support measures to expand access to ballots, including absentee and mail-in voting – although concerns exist about potential fraud through methods like ballot boxes and mailed-in ballots. In many cases, measures that were implemented during the pandemic have become permanent policies.
On the other hand, Republicans prioritize voting integrity and often seek legislative remedies to enhance the security of ballots and polling stations – even if some argue that imposing identification or verification requirements or shortening ballot return times could make voting more challenging or deter people from participating in the electoral process. Some measures restrict the conveniences provided during the COVID-19 election four years ago.
Both sides harbor doubts about each other. Many Republicans accuse Democrats’ laws of manipulating the vote-counting process to allow ineligible individuals to vote. Meanwhile, Democrats allege that Republican security measures are covert ways to limit voting – particularly in minority communities.