The presidential debate accomplished more for Harris than it did for Trump

Overview: 

This article was written by William A. Galston and Elaine Kamarck at Brookings. 

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• Kamala Harris used the debate to introduce herself to voters, emphasizing her middle-class background and experience as a prosecutor.
• Donald Trump focused on separating himself from his party's extreme policies and addressing key voter concerns like the economy and abortion.

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Key Quotes:

• “From the very first minutes of the debate, it was clear that she knew she had to define herself and that she did—as a child of the middle class who, in contrast to Trump, was not given $400 million to start a business.”
• “Trump tried to distance himself from the extremes, arguing that he would approve of abortions for rape and incest and even going so far as to say the Florida six-week ban is too short.”

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What They Discuss:

• Kamala Harris faced three main challenges: introducing herself to unfamiliar voters, explaining her shifting positions on key issues, and proving her capability to serve as president.
• Harris consistently brought up her prosecutorial background to counter claims of being weak on crime.
• Trump needed to convey he wasn't obsessed with conspiracy theories and to appeal to swing voters.
• Trump’s repeated focus on illegal immigration highlighted a core issue for his campaign but may have limited his broader appeal.
• Abortion emerged as a particularly controversial topic, with Harris attacking restrictive state policies and Trump attempting to moderate his stance.

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What They Recommend:

• Harris should continue defining herself clearly to voters and emphasize her prosecutorial experience.
• Trump should stick to script on key issues like the economy and avoid deviating into conspiracy theories.
• Both candidates need to clarify their positions on contentious issues like abortion and immigration to appeal to undecided voters.

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Key Takeaways:

• Kamala Harris' debate performance likely energized her supporters and further introduced her to voters who didn't know her well.
• Trump's focus on illegal immigration and attempts to moderate his position on abortion had mixed success in broadening his appeal.
• The debate could boost Harris' campaign, but the final outcome will depend on continued voter engagement and state-specific efforts.

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This is a brief overview of the article by William A. Galston and Elaine Kamarck at Brookings. For complete insights, we recommend reading the full article.