“Debates don’t win elections.” With that statement, Kamala Harris herself directed one of her first emails after her debate with Donald Trump to ask for more donations. He won the debate, even if it was more of a confrontation about the past than about possible futures. For Harris, it was more about building a presidential image, both attractive and tough, about distancing herself from Biden without criticizing him, than about defending his proposals. They both said that the other had “no plan” (in Europe we would have said “program”). “The question comes down to this,” tweeted one influential pro-Trump businessman after the debate: “Do you want current trends to continue for another four years or do you want change?”
Politics in a democracy has become increasingly emotional. It is more important to impact sensibilities and feelings, especially in a polarized society, than to propose concrete proposals, of which there have been few. Harris calls this “opportunity economics.” Trump remains stuck in his MAGA (Making America Great Again).
