Kamala Harris Remains Resilient and Composed; Trump Unable to Land a Decisive Blow
The second U.S. presidential debate showcased significant shifts in the race for the White House, as Vice President Kamala Harris took an assertive stance, successfully challenging Donald Trump on issues such as his criminal convictions, abortion rights, and the attendance at his rallies. Her sharp critiques seemed to unnerve Trump, illustrating a stark contrast in their approaches.
Harris’s performance was widely regarded as a major victory for the Democrats, especially after President Joe Biden’s decision to step down following his underwhelming debate in June. Empowered by her success, Harris even called for a second debate, while Trump remained evasive on the matter.
The body language between the two candidates further highlighted their differences. Harris made the first move by walking over to Trump’s podium to offer a handshake, a gesture that visibly surprised him. This stood in contrast to the previous debate between Trump and Biden, where no handshake occurred. Throughout the debate, Harris maintained direct eye contact with Trump, challenging him with steady composure, even smiling or shaking her head in disagreement whenever he made unsubstantiated claims or personal attacks. At one point, she rested her hand on her chin after Trump labeled her a Marxist.
Harris also utilized the camera effectively, addressing key topics like the economy and abortion with a focus that felt aimed directly at the audience. Trump, however, refrained from making eye contact with Harris during their exchanges, becoming visibly unsettled during discussions on abortion. He appeared to falter when questioned about his stance on a national abortion ban, leading to a defensive response.
Harris struck a nerve when she quipped that attendees at Trump’s rallies left due to “exhaustion” and “boredom,” prompting Trump to shift the conversation to defend his rally turnout. He also claimed that “no one” attended Harris’s events.
The debate saw ABC News moderators stepping in to fact-check Trump multiple times, particularly when he bizarrely claimed that immigrants were eating pets in Ohio. The moderator promptly corrected him, stating there was no evidence to support his claim.
Commentators weighed in on the debate with critical assessments of Trump’s performance. Former New Jersey Governor and ABC political commentator Chris Christie declared Trump was “unprepared” and criticized the peculiar remark about people eating pets, calling it “a huge fail.” Christie warned that Trump needed to improve his preparation or risk losing the election.
Fox News’ Brit Hume similarly praised Harris’s showing, stating, “Make no mistake, Trump had a bad night. This was Kamala Harris’s night.” Trump’s grievances, Hume observed, overshadowed his ability to present new ideas, leaving Harris to emerge as the stronger candidate.
