New York, Sep 14 (V7N) – By most conventional standards, US Vice President Kamala Harris decisively outperformed Donald Trump in their first presidential debate. Harris entered the debate stage in Philadelphia with several goals: to reintroduce herself to the American people, defend President Joe Biden's administration, and distinguish herself as a candidate. She also aimed to outline the importance of the upcoming election and present a strong case against Trump. Harris managed to achieve all these objectives while delivering a hopeful message for voters to leave behind the turbulent Trump years.

Taking Control of the Debate

Harris came to the stage well-prepared, confidently extending her hand to Trump at the beginning, setting a tone that allowed her to consistently take control throughout the night. She frequently left Trump visibly unsettled, something not often seen on the public stage. Harris strategically deployed pointed remarks, forcing Trump into awkward exaggerations or claims, often leaving him floundering in his responses.

For instance, when Harris made a remark about the size of Trump's rallies, it triggered a boastful response from him — “the most incredible rallies in the history of politics” — that ultimately led to a rhetorical stumble from which Trump struggled to recover.

The Sharpest Line of the Night

Perhaps the most striking moment came when Harris listed former Trump advisers who have turned into his critics. Trump claimed to have fired them, which led Harris to deliver one of her most biting lines: that it was not only his advisers who fired him, but 81 million Americans in the last election. This reinforced her call for voters to move forward and reminded them of Trump's refusal to accept the 2020 election results.

Trump did find moments to push back, such as when he criticized the Biden administration for approving the Nord Stream pipeline. However, much of his rhetoric appeared exaggerated, including bizarre claims about windmills, babies being executed after birth, and Haitian migrants eating pets — statements that came across as conspiratorial and unpresidential, especially as Harris openly laughed at him.

A Difficult Night for Trump

Ultimately, media coverage suggests that Republicans, especially Trump, felt the debate didn’t go in their favor. Trump’s team quickly began offering explanations, citing unscientific online polls, criticizing the debate moderators, and even promoting a baseless conspiracy theory that Harris knew the questions beforehand. These denials highlighted the deeper stakes of the election, as Harris stressed that Trump continues to struggle with accepting defeat and adhering to democratic norms.

As the election approaches, Americans will need to decide whether they are ready to move past Trump’s approach to politics, as Harris urged.

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