As Tuesday’s presidential debate approaches, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are adopting distinctly different strategies, reflecting their contrasting approaches to major political moments.
Harris’s Focused Preparation
Harris is entrenched in a historic Pittsburgh hotel, meticulously preparing for the debate by crafting precise two-minute responses, as per the debate rules. Since Thursday, she has been refining her answers with her team and has chosen a location that allows for engagement with swing-state voters.
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Trump’s Approach
In contrast, Trump has openly dismissed the value of debate preparation. He has focused instead on campaign events, believing that he will adapt on stage as the debate unfolds. “You can go in with all the strategy you want, but you have to sort of feel it out as the debate’s taking place,” Trump remarked during a Fox News town hall. He echoed the sentiment of former boxing champion Mike Tyson, stating, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
Harris’s Strategy Against Trump
Harris is bracing for Trump’s potential insults and misinformation, emphasizing that her campaign is centered on issues affecting the middle class and a vision for the future. “We should be prepared for the fact that he is not burdened by telling the truth,” Harris said during a radio interview. “He tends to fight for himself, not for the American people, and I think that’s going to come out during the course of the debate.”
Harris’s Preparation Team
For her preparation, Harris is working with Philippe Reines, a consultant and former aide to Hillary Clinton, who is simulating Trump’s debating style. Harris aims to demonstrate a stronger leadership capability compared to Trump, reflecting his own desire to project strength.
Trump’s Debate History and Current Strategy
Trump’s debate performance against President Joe Biden on June 27 was a turning point, leading to Biden’s withdrawal and Harris’s endorsement. Both campaigns view the upcoming debate as a crucial moment in a tightly contested race.
Trump has preemptively criticized the debate moderators, claiming he anticipates unfair treatment. Nevertheless, he has indicated he will allow Harris ample speaking time, similar to his approach with Biden. “I let him talk. I’m gonna let her talk,” Trump noted during his town hall.
Trump’s Preparation Methods
Trump’s preparation this time around has been informal, with no traditional debate prep sessions. Instead, his campaign points to his extensive public speaking, interviews, and interactions with policy advisers as his form of preparation. “I have meetings on it. We talk about it. But there’s not a lot you can do. You either know your subject or not,” Trump explained in a radio interview.
Engagement with Tulsi Gabbard
In contrast to previous debate preparations, Trump has engaged with Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic congresswoman now supporting him, who has debated Harris in the past. Gabbard’s involvement aims to leverage her experience with Harris to Trump’s advantage.
