Kamala Harris took over the stage as soon as she crossed the stage, approached her rival’s lectern, introduced herself, and extended her hand. There’s nothing that unnerves a rude person more than good manners.
Chronicle – Kamala Harris corners Donald Trump in the presidential debate
Analysis – From immigrants who (don’t) eat cats to Kamala Harris’ traps: a debate from which Donald Trump emerges bruised
Election debates are like arguments. They are won and lost depending on who you ask. It is more reliable to assess whether you managed to say everything you wanted to say and get the other person to talk about what is best for you; or whether your opponent did. Kamala Harris managed to deliver every message she had prepared and get Donald Trump to talk about what was good for her and how it was good for her.
Another reliable indicator is usually the ratings of the show’s hosts. When the outcome was favorable, no one complained about the referee. Joe Biden’s team blamed their debacle on CNN moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, alleging their inability to cut through the Republican candidate’s stream of hoaxes. Trump’s team was already denouncing the next minute that their man had in fact debated three, Harris plus the two anchors—Lindsay Davis and David Muir—from ABC, with whom he had fought over whether or not he had lost the election.
Kamala Harris took over the stage as soon as she crossed the stage, approached her rival’s lectern, introduced herself, and offered her hand. There’s nothing that unnerves a rude person more than good manners. It leaves them more confused than an insult or disdain. By the time Trump recovered from the handshake, he was already halfway through the debate.
The Democratic candidate had three goals in mind: to cement presidential authority, to connect with the middle class and the average voter by showing them that she has plans for them, and to present herself as the new girl in a world of old people. She accomplished all three and also got the bonus of putting Trump on the defensive for the first time in years.
The Republican candidate didn’t drop a single bait. Whether it was complimenting the size and fun of the masses who come to see him, the immigrants who kill dogs and cats in the neighborhood, or narrowing down the list of leaders who admire Victor Orban. There were moments during the night when Trump remembered that great-uncle who had to be allowed to talk and start his crazy fights while half the family exchanged sympathetic glances and the other half made faces and imitated him. With each passing minute, he looked more like that weird guy that Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, talks about.
The switch from Biden to Harris left Trump without a campaign. He has been looking for one ever since. During the debate, he still couldn’t find one. That’s why I miss the other older man I debated with before so desperately and everything was so much easier.
The ninety minutes of the meeting are perfectly summed up in the closing remarks. Kamala Harris used her two minutes to reiterate her messages, to speak directly to this ordinary voter who sought to connect all night and talk about the future. Donald Trump spent them talking about Harris while warning of the end of the world and it seemed even more bizarre.
