Last Updated on 11/09/2024 by Arun jain
For Beth Ann Riches of South Bend, Ind., tonight’s presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump couldn’t come soon enough.
“I want to see the prosecutor come out and get under the ex’s skin,” Riches, 62, said. “I think I’ll fix myself a nice cocktail (or two) and enjoy watching him lose his cool.”
Anacortes, Wash. In, Shay Shual-Burke, 72, a former Democratic state legislator, is so excited by the debate that she and fellow members of the progressive group decided to turn their regular monthly meeting into a watch party tonight. Popcorn and cookies.
And in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Patricia Harris was confident that Harris would “repel” Trump — and that Hillary Clinton would get her revenge while she was there.
“I know the hopes he has because I’ve heard him express it over and over again,” said Harris, 76, a former chairman of her county’s Democratic Party, which is part of a Facebook group that has raised money for Vice. President, said. “I just hope for the collective psyche of the nation that he actually delivers.”
Last week, I asked you all how you felt about this debate, answering a question I posed ahead of the prospective meeting between Trump and President Biden in June. During that time, I heard from confident Trump supporters — and a flood of Biden supporters Were practically hiding under the bed with worry.
To put it mildly, they’ve been on a roller coaster ever since. Most have converted to Harris supporters, and, judging by the responses I’ve received, many of them feel they can already taste victory in the debate. but, With the race neck and neck in the electionIt was clear that many of Harris’ supporters were still feeling deep anxiety — especially when it came to the burden of great expectations and the folly of overconfidence.
“I worry that the expectations may be too high for Harris,” wrote Elizabeth Egan of Smithville, NJ, adding that “she would have to cry to be recognized as a winner.”
A night of high stakes
No matter who you’re supporting in November — or if you’re undecided — you can agree on one thing: tonight is really important.
Trump supporters were elated earlier this summer after his debate with Biden essentially ended the president’s re-election campaign. Biden’s stalled performance raised doubts about his age and fitness — and shifted the spotlight away from Trump, who could face fresh scrutiny tonight.
“Trump has to prove to the American people that the old steak he has will still work,” wrote Zakhai Akiba, a supporter of the former president in Cambridge, Mass. “I think the pressure is on Trump 100 percent.”
Charles Ayer of Vernon, Conn., said he had “never been Trump” for the past four years but planned to vote for the former president in the fall. He disliked the way Biden ran a “basement” campaign in 2020, referring to the way Biden limited his campaign events during the Covid pandemic, and he now believes Harris is taking a similarly cautious approach that he “can’t stand.” .”
Ayer plans to watch the debate tonight, he said, though his expectations are low.
“I don’t think Trump will win,” Ayer said, “but Harris will lose.”
Lori Nelson, a former Republican who became an independent voter after the 2016 election, said the high stakes of the debate — which pundits have suggested the night could make or break Harris’ campaign — have left her feeling no shortage of fear.
“I think Harris is tough and can be laser-focused but I also know Trump has an instinctive killer MO,” Nelson wrote. “He can rattle her, throw her off her game, and win the night based on some stupid thing he’s pulled out of his hat.”
Dose of PTSD
Several readers wrote me to say they were convinced that Harris — a former prosecutor with a history of going for the kill on the debate stage — had enough skills to demolish Trump on stage.
But one thing was very clear from the messages I received from Harris supporters: Even if you should To feel confident, you’re coming into this debate with some baggage after watching Biden’s disastrous debate in June — as well as Trump’s impressive performance. When he debated with Clinton in 2016.
“I am filled with fear. PTSD,” wrote Eve Kramer of Berkeley, Calif., referring to post-traumatic stress disorder. “I remember Trump standing behind Hillary Clinton and stalking her.”
Still, Kramer was trying to move on. “Can I watch this again? Yes,” she wrote. “Kamala Harris will kick ass.”
Mary Garofalo of Summerland Key, Fla., wrote that June’s debate left her in tears — so she’s feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement tonight.
“I am confident that Harris can deliver,” she wrote, “as long as moderators keep the ‘beast’ under control.”
Several readers wrote in to express a different concern: that she might face an impossible double standard in debating a candidate who has long made it clear he doesn’t care about norms or rules on stage.
“I definitely believe Kamala Harris will hold her own better than Biden,” wrote Rob Stillman of Columbus, Ohio. “Still, I’m not sure her point will come across to someone like Trump, who doesn’t follow the rules and relies on bullying, insults and lies to try to cover up anyone who challenges him.”
Others were surprised that the bar for Harris would simply be higher.
“Trump has nothing to lose, and Harris has everything to lose,” wrote Ann Tippett of Birmingham, AL. “He can’t afford to make a single mistake.”
Your Questions for Candidates
Tonight it’s up to the moderators, David Muir and Lynsey Davies, to ask the questions and keep the candidates in line. But you, dear readers, know exactly what you want to hear. Here is a sample:
Joe Fultz, Wake Forest, NC, Wants to hear each candidate’s plan to address student loan forgiveness. “On an issue that affects millions of Americans,” he said, “I don’t know where Harris and Trump each stand.”
Melinda Halford, Black Mountain, NC, Candidates are expected to be asked about climate change. “Disasters are increasing and causing more and more economic problems,” she said.
Diane Lau, Greenfield, Wis., She wants to hear about the apparent contradictions in Trump’s approach to law enforcement. “I want to know how he can say he supports the police and law and order when he intends to pardon the violent criminals of January 6,” she said.
Phyllis Horst Nofziger, Stevens, Pa., A simple question. “Will you accept the election result without contest?”
Carol May, of Prairie du Sac, Wis., There is a question about reproductive health care. “How can health care organizations recruit OB-GYNs, the primary source of health care for women, in states with restrictive abortion laws?”
Here’s how to watch tonight’s debate
The debate, which begins at 9 p.m. ET, will be hosted by ABC News from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
The New York Times will stream the debate as more than two dozen reporters analyze and fact-check in real time. Join our live chat at 8pm Eastern.
In addition to our reporters inside Philadelphia’s debate hall, we’ll have reporters involved in politics and policy providing context and analysis and a team of fact-checkers rating the candidates’ claims. (Learn more about how we fact check.)
Several other networks will simulcast the debate, including C-SPAN, PBS, CNN, Fox News, NBC News, MSNBC, BBC and NewsNation.
campaign Agreed to the same rules That was used in June, when Trump and Biden faced off. That means the microphone will be muted when a candidate is not speaking, candidates will not be able to ask each other questions, and there will be no audience, among other things.
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