Harris and Trump: What to Expect from the 2024 Debate

The highly anticipated debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, set to take place on Tuesday, is being viewed as a crucial moment in the 2024 election campaign. With less than two months remaining before Election Day, both candidates are neck-and-neck in national polls. The debate is expected to feature sharp exchanges and provide a platform for both candidates to articulate their vision for the country, while also launching pointed attacks at one another.

Harris gave some insight into her approach in a recent interview with radio host Rickey Smiley, in which she expressed her belief that Trump would spread misinformation during the debate. She plans to counter him by highlighting his self-centered approach to governance. “He tends to fight for himself, not for the American people,” she said, adding that she intends to make this clear during the debate. Harris will likely focus on contrasting her policies and background with Trump’s, underscoring her work for the middle class and her record as a prosecutor.

According to sources, Harris will not be unveiling new economic policy proposals, but she will emphasize her existing plans. Additionally, she is expected to share more about her personal background, including her middle-class upbringing and career in law. This personal narrative is intended to help address the fact that, due to a shortened campaign timeline, some voters may not be as familiar with her as a candidate. Harris’ campaign will likely lean into the prosecutor-versus-felon narrative, casting Trump’s legal troubles as a defining issue. Trump’s advisors are reportedly preparing for such an attack, and Harris’ campaign recently released a new advertisement featuring former Trump officials criticizing him. The ad portrays Trump as a threat to American democracy and national security, underscoring the contrast between the two candidates.

In addition to this, Harris is expected to critique Trump on social issues, particularly regarding his role in the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the controversial Project 2025 proposal, which Democrats argue would give the executive branch undue power. Trump, while distancing himself from Project 2025, is still vulnerable to attacks on his past judicial appointments that facilitated the reversal of Roe v. Wade. These topics are also highlighted on Harris’ newly updated policy page, indicating they will play a central role in her debate strategy.

On the other hand, Trump’s strategy is expected to revolve around criticizing Harris for her connection to the Biden administration’s policies on the economy and the U.S.-Mexico border. His senior adviser, Jason Miller, told The New York Times that Trump plans to tie Harris directly to the challenges the current administration has faced in managing inflation and border security. Trump’s debate preparation has also reportedly included a focus on Harris’ record as a prosecutor and her more progressive stances during the 2020 Democratic primary, including her previous support for Medicare for All and a fracking ban—positions she has since moderated.

One potential risk for Trump is his personal animosity toward Harris, which could emerge during the debate. His advisers have cautioned him to maintain a more affable demeanor, encouraging him to channel the “happy Trump” persona rather than come across as overly combative. This is reminiscent of the 2016 debate when Hillary Clinton baited Trump by calling him a “Russian puppet,” visibly frustrating him. Harris may attempt a similar strategy, as Clinton advised her in The New York Times, suggesting that Harris should goad Trump rather than being provoked herself.

Interestingly, Harris has been contemplating how she would handle Trump on a debate stage for years. In 2018, when asked by an adviser how she would react if Trump invaded her personal space as he did with Clinton in 2016, Harris responded that she would ask him directly, “Why are you being so weird? What’s wrong with you?” This remark has since become emblematic of the “weird” label that some Democrats have attached to Trump and his allies.

In terms of preparation, Harris has enlisted the help of Philippe Reines, a longtime aide to Clinton who played Trump during debate rehearsals in 2016. Over the past few days, Reines has been playing Trump in mock debate sessions with Harris, held at a Pittsburgh hotel. Her debate prep team includes longtime advisers, such as Washington lawyer Karen Dunn and Rohini Kosoglu, as well as her brother-in-law Tony West and campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon.

Trump’s approach to debate preparation has been less formal. According to The New York Times, rather than conducting mock debate sessions, Trump and his team have been holding “policy time” meetings to refresh his memory on key issues. Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who has endorsed Trump, has been involved in these discussions, and Trump’s advisers, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, have been grilling him on tough subjects like his legal troubles and character attacks. Gaetz has mentioned that Trump doesn’t do traditional debate prep but instead has casual meetings to discuss his policy stances and strategies.

As for the polling landscape, Harris holds a slight edge over Trump, according to averages from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics. While Harris leads by just over a point in national polls, the race remains extremely close, especially in key battleground states.

The debate will take place at 9 p.m. EDT at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and will be broadcast live on major networks. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to questions, with an additional two-minute rebuttal, and a one-minute follow-up opportunity. Notably, the candidates’ microphones will be muted when they are not speaking, a rule that the Harris campaign pushed for to prevent interruptions. ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis will serve as moderators.

This debate is the first and only face-off between Harris and Trump before Election Day on November 5, making it a pivotal moment in what has been a remarkably competitive race.