On Tuesday, September 10th, Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump participated in their first presidential debate for the 2024 election. The debate was televised by ABC News.
This debate occurred following President Biden’s dropping out of the presidential race and the Democratic party’s endorsement of Vice President Harris as the democratic candidate. President Biden and Trump had debated previously before the former dropped out, which sparked heated debates about the President’s ability to properly lead our country for four more years. Harris announced her campaign for presidency on July 21, 2024. Although it was a late start for the November election, she was endorsed by the democratic party.
The presidential debate allowed both Trump and Harris to share their views on social issues, political stressors, and foreign policy. Some prevalent issues debated by the two candidates were abortion, the Israel and Palestine war, the economy, and immigration. Because Harris’ campaign is fairly new, she was allowed to make her plans and values clear. Trump reiterated some of his previously stated views on popular political issues. Both candidates called the other’s qualifications and motivations to lead the country into question. Trump accused Harris of acting as an extension as President Biden and planning to carry that into the White House if elected. Harris accused Trump of planning to serve only upper-class white men instead of working-class Americans who make up most of the population.
Following the debate, many democrats felt a restored trust in the party. Biden’s age and declining health had caused tension within the party about his ability to run the country. Harris’ appearance at the debate showed the emergence of a new era of the democratic party. The current national polling average for Harris sits at 49.2% for Harris and 45.8% for Trump. When asked about an October debate with Harris, Trump declined the request and stated it would be “too late” in the election to debate.
