In a highly anticipated event, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will face off in their first and possibly only televised debate of the 2024 U.S. presidential election on Tuesday.
This debate could be a pivotal moment as both candidates are running neck-and-neck in the polls with less than two months until election day.
For Harris, 59, the debate is an opportunity to connect with voters who may not be fully familiar with her, especially after she unexpectedly replaced President Joe Biden in July.
As the first female, Black, and South Asian vice president, Harris is poised to make her mark. Her preparations have been intense, with reports suggesting that one of her aides dressed in Trump-style attire to help her practice for the debate.
Trump, 78, who is well-known for his aggressive debating style, has taken a more relaxed approach in preparation. He arrived in Philadelphia just hours before the debate, having chosen minimal preparation for what will be his seventh presidential debate.
His strategy appears to focus on confronting Harris on key issues such as the economy and immigration, while also potentially resorting to the racially and sexually charged attacks he has used in the past.
The debate, hosted by ABC News in Pennsylvania, will be the first time the two meet in person, raising the stakes for a potentially heated exchange.
While the format will include muted microphones when a candidate is not speaking—requested by Trump’s team—the tension and contrasts between the candidates’ styles are expected to be on full display.
Harris, known for her prosecutorial sharpness, will be looking to articulate her policy positions more clearly, especially after a recent New York Times/Siena poll showed Trump slightly ahead by 48 to 47 percent.
With the polls showing a near tie in several battleground states, this debate could be a crucial turning point.
