US election 2024 live Presidential Debate: Donald Trump, Kamala Harris face off in Philadelphia

THREE KEY FACTS
Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris put Republican Donald Trump on the defensive in a combative Presidential Debate in Philadelphia with attacks on abortion rights, his legal woes, links to the uprising at the Capitol on January 6 and the size of his rallies as both candidates put their plans to the public in the closely fought election.
Former US president Trump and Harris clashed in the ABC News-hosted debate that took place just eight weeks before the November 5 election, with both candidates locked in a tight race that could still easily swing in either direction.
At one point, Harris brought up Trump’s campaign rallies, goading him by saying that people often leave early “out of exhaustion and boredom”.
Trump responded by saying: “My rallies, we have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics.” He then pivoted to a claim that immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are “eating the pets” of residents.
STORY CONTINUES AFTER THE LIVE BLOG
Scott Palmer
Thanks for joining the Herald for our live coverage of the US Presidential debate. These live updates are now over.
Who won the debate?
Scott Palmer
The majority of debate watchers think Harris won the debate.
According to a poll taken by CNN and SSRS after the debate, 63% of debate watchers said Harris and 37% said Trump.
The poll has a margin of error of +/- 5.3% points.
CNN said that before the debate, respondents were completely split.
The CNN instant poll in June found that among debate watchers, 33% thought Biden won and 67% thought Trump won.
Trump reacts to Swift’s announcement
Scott Palmer
Donald Trump said he had “no idea” when asked by CNN what his reaction was to Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris.
Vera Alves
Asked by CNN about how he thought he performed tonight, Donald Trump said it was his “best debate”.
Vera Alves
Vera Alves
Speaking to Fox News, Trump compared Kamala Harris to a boxer who had just lost in the ring.
“When you’re a prize fighter and you lose, you immediately want a new fight,” he said.
Vera Alves
“This is the most important celebrity endorsement that I ever seen. The timing on it is absolutely exquisite, the wording of it is flawless. For someone who’s never been impressed by a celebrity endorsement, this is perfect and powerful," MSNBC anchor Lawrence O'Donnell said.
Trump allies attack ‘biased’ moderators
Vera Alves
Donald Trump's allies have attacked "biased" ABC News after admitting that Kamala Harris performed well against him in Thursday's presidential debate.
The former president's surrogates told reporters in the spin room at the debate in Philadelphia that "biased" moderation by ABC's David Muir was the cause of their candidate's uneasy performance.
Mr Muir interrupted Trump several times to offer rebuttal of his points, including that Haitian migrants are eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio.
Vivek Ramaswamy, the former Republican primary contender, said: "[There was] a much more biased setting this time around, that I think people at home will see through.
"So I do hope that there is not only another debate, but another debate...where the candidates can actually talk directly at each other, rather than have something that is laundered through what I do think was a biased moderation."
"Particularly Jonathan [sic] Muir I think was imbalanced in the way he handled that debate moderation."
- Tony Diver, Daily Telegraph UK
Debate ‘wasn’t even close’, says Biden
Vera Alves
Lindsey Graham says Trump was a ‘disaster’
Vera Alves
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told MSNBC that Donald Trump's debate performance was a "disaster" in the spin room, saying that his debate team should be fired.
JD Vance doubles down on Trump's pet eating comments
Vera Alves
Trump's running mate JD Vance claimed the ABC moderators were helping Harris.
On Trump's claims that immigrants are eating people's pets, Vance said its not that the claim is not true, it's that there is no evidence.
"This town has been ravaged by... migrants," Vance said.
People didn't care what was going on in the communities until there were "memes" about cats, Vance said.
Vance said people are calling his office to say they're seeing migrants kidnap pets to eat.
To be clear: this is a lie that has been debunked. There is no evidence that this is happening at all.
Vera Alves
Vera Alves
Vera Alves
Trump says this is 'the best debate' he's ever had
Vera Alves
“I think it was the best debate that I’ve ever personally that I’ve had,” Trump said, CNN reports.
He said that Harris “wants to do another one because she got beaten tonight but I don’t if we’re going to be doing another one.”
'Guys, we’re still the underdogs in this race. It’s tight,' Harris tells supporters
Vera Alves
Following the debate, Harris talked to a crowd of supporters at a watch party in Philadelphia, CNN reports.
“Guys, we’re still the underdogs in this race. It’s tight."
"We believe in who we are. We believe in the American people. This is a campaign about bringing folks together, knowing the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us,” Harris said.
Vera Alves
During the debate, Trumps running mate Ohio senator JD Vance said on social media, "Kamala Harris's incompetence will lead us into World War 3."
"Crime is down in Venezuela because they're sending criminals to the United States. Kamala Harris can't respond to that point because it's true!" Vance said social media.
Vance said on CNN that he thought Trump had "a great debate."
Vance said Harris was running away from previous positions she held on policies, alongside the results of her vice presidency during the current Biden campaign.
'A president for all Americans': Obama praises Harris after debate performance
Vera Alves
“Tonight, we saw firsthand who has the vision and strength to move this country forward instead of dividing us. @KamalaHarris will be a president for all Americans,” Obama wrote on social media.
Vera Alves
CNN anchor Chris Wallace said he didn’t think he’d ever “witness a debate as devastating” as that between Biden and Trump in June, CNN reports.
“I think tonight was just as devastating,” Wallace said regarding Trump’s performance today.
Vera Alves
Vera Alves
'Devastating for Trump' - CNN anchor
Vera Alves
The debate was devastating for Trump, CNN anchor Chris Wallace said.
Wallace said that he believed Harris “shut Trump down.”
“Donald Trump looked old tonight,” Wallace said.
Vera Alves
"This was the endorsement the Harris campaign was hoping for more than anything else," a CNN commentator said of Taylor Swift enforcing Harris.
Vera Alves
A CNN commentator said Trump repeatedly went down the "rabbit hole" of talking about unpopular moments in his previous campaign.
Vera Alves
Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro said Harris is travelling to places in America that often get ignored by candidates.
After closing statements, former President Donald Trump spoke for about 42 minutes and 52 seconds, while Vice President Kamala Harris spoke for about 37 minutes and 36 seconds during the debate, according to CNN.
Harris's running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he is "feeling great" about his running mate's debate performance while calling Trump's "unhinged."
"You saw a president for all Americans," Walz said.
"On the other side, you saw a nearly 80-year-old Donald Trump angry and unhinged," he said.
Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris
Vera Alves
Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris for president following the debate.
“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election,” Swift said in a post to Instagram.
“I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”
Vera Alves
CNN is reporting that Donald Trump’s campaign tried to claim victory before the end of the presidential debate.
Top Trump advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles arguing that his performance was “masterful” and that he laid out a “bold vision of America.
”The statement called Vice President Kamala Harris’ vision for America “a dark reminder of the oppressive, big government policies of Joe Biden that she wants to continue.”
'She put him in his place' - CNN pundit
Vera Alves
CNN pundits Van Jones and David Axelrod were highly complementary of Harris’ debate performance against Trump.
“She dominated”, Axelrod said, describing it as a unique debate in his decades covering them.
“She put him in his place,” said Jones of Harris’ debate performance.
Vera Alves
Some of Trump’s allies told CNN they are frustrated that he has lost his composure multiple times during the debate.
“His worst behaviour is on display,” one ally told CNN.
Vera Alves
JD Vance said Harris "talks to the American people like they're children."
Vera Alves
JD Vance said people cannot afford groceries because of Harris' current policies. "This debate didn't talk enough about how Americans can't afford groceries."
He claimed there is a fentanyl crisis because Harris is letting the Mexican Cartel across the border.
Trump kept 'taking the bait' - Republican commentator
Vera Alves
A Republican commentator on the PBS panel said Harris had a clear strategy to connect with swing voters and bait Trump, whereas Trump had no clear strategy and kept taking the bait.
Vera Alves
JD Vance said Harris had little substance on how they'll lower grocery prices. He said she has "a lot of slogans" with no substance.
Vera Alves
CNN commentator Jeff Zeleny said he thought the debate could be summed up in 10 words: “You’re not running against Joe Biden. You’re running against me," as Harris told Trump.
Vera Alves
Trump's running mate, JD Vance, says Trump made it clear he doesn't want an abortion ban, and wants policies to be made by each state.
Vera Alves
CNN commentator Kevin Liptak said the debate was personal and stinging, with Harris effectively baiting Trump into angry rants.
"Vice President Harris is ready for a second debate," Harris campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon said minutes after it ended.
Vera Alves
According to polling this month from the New York Times/Siena College, 60% of undecided voters say they are moderates and 54% say they are independents.
Of that group of undecided voters, 48% say they want to learn more about Harris, compared with 18% who say they want to hear more from Trump, CNN reported.
Tim Walz says Trump was 'unhinged'
Vera Alves
Govt Tim Walz on now: We saw an 80-year-old Trump "unhinged". "He shouldn't be anywhere near the White House."
Vera Alves
Who do you think won the debate?
Vera Alves
Tell us by voting in the poll above.
Vera Alves
An ABC host said Trump seemed "angry" and lacked policy. Compared to Harris who wanted to be the vision of "hope".
Fact-check: Yes, Trump called climate change a "hoax"
Vera Alves
Trump has on multiple occasions called climate change and global warming a hoax in speeches, social media posts and interviews.
The original source of Harris' claim that he called climate change "a hoax" was a tweet Trump sent on Nov. 6, 2012.
Trump’s tweet said, "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive."
More than 97% of the world’s climate scientists and a majority of domestic and international scientific organizations agree that human activity is causing the Earth to warm. The related long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns are known as climate change.
— Maria Ramirez Uribe, PBS
That concludes the debate
Vera Alves
Stick around for more fact-checking and post-debate analysis as we gather comments and reaction from experts.
Trump: 'We're a failing nation'
Vera Alves
Trump says the US is a nation in decline and, as a country, is being laughed at.
He says they are going to end up in a third world war and "it'll be a war like no other".
We can't sacrifice our country for bad vision, he says of the Democrats. "We're being laughed at all over the world. They don't understand what's happened to us as a nation".
He said we'll end up in a third world war. "I rebuilt our entire military. She gave it away to the Taliban, to Afghanistan". He said Biden and Harris are the worst president and vice president in the country's history.
Vera Alves
Trump says Harris has been in power for three and a half years and hasn't achieved what she says she is preaching she will do next term.
"You haven't done it and won't do it."
"You believe in things like 'we're not going to frack'."
Time for Donald Trump's closing statement
Vera Alves
He begins by asking Harris why she hasn't done the things she wants to do.
Kamala Harris: 'I only have one client - the people'
Vera Alves
"I do believe the American people know we have so much more in common than what devices us."
"Thats why intend to create an Opportunity Economy."
Harris wants to bring down the cost of living, and give hardworking folks a break, she said.
"I will be a president who protects the fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right of a woman to make decisions about her own body."
She says she intends to be a president for all Americans.
Time for closing statements
Vera Alves
Kamala Harris making her closing statement first.
Vera Alves
Fact-check: Harris said Trump called Charlottesville mob ‘fine people’
Vera Alves
Politifact and PBS fact-checked this Harris claim too and found it stands up.
Democrats have consistently attacked Trump for comments he made in 2017 to reporters following the violent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the removal of a Confederate general’s statue.
Speaking of protesters, Trump said, “You had some very bad people in that group, but you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides.” During back-and-forth interviews, he also condemned the “neo-Nazis and the white nationalists.”
“But not all of those people were neo-Nazis, believe me,” he said. “Not all of those people were white supremacists by any stretch."
He said counterprotesters had similar make-up of “good” and “bad” people — “some fine people” and also “ troublemakers” and “bad people.”
— Grace Abels and Aaron Sharockman, PBS
Did Putin really endorse Harris? Here is the fact-checkers' verdict
Vera Alves
Putin's endorsement of Harris was seen as sarcastic.
Trump said Putin "endorsed Harris last week." Here's what happened.
On Sept. 5, Putin said he would support Harris over Trump. “Our ‘favorite,’ if you can call it that, was the current president, Mr. (Joe) Biden,” Putin said at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. “But he was removed from the race … Well, we will do so — we will support her. She laughs so expressively and infectiously that it means that everything is fine with her."
Many news outlets placed Putin’s tongue firmly in his cheek. Al Jazeerareported that Putin was “trolling” Harris’ campaign. USA Today andThe Associated Press agreed that Putin was joking; HuffPost called his commentsarcastic. The AP said some audience members laughed when Putin made his comment.
Putin has generally praised Trump. In 2016, Putin called Trump a “statesman” and a“clever man.” Putin’s remark “endorsing” Harris came after the Biden administration’scrackdown on Russian efforts to tilt the 2024 presidential election.
— Matthew Crowley, PBS
Fact-check: Trump repeats false claim about immigrants and voting
Vera Alves
Trump said Democrats are trying to get illegal immigrants "to vote, and that's why they're allowing them to come into our country.” That's Pants on Fire.
Trump has provided no evidence for this scheme. Only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections, and proven incidents of noncitizens casting ballots are rare. Immigrants who arrive now legally also can't vote, because the process to get U.S. citizenship takes years.
Trump has said false claims about immigrants voting in 2014, in 2016 as a presidential candidate, and again in 2020 after his reelection loss.
There is nothing new about this claim in 2024. Our search for evidence turned up sporadic cases of noncitizens registering to vote or casting ballots. But we found no effort by the left to register people in the country illegally.
— Amy Sherman, PBS
Fact-check: Yes, Trump paid for an ad calling for execution of Central Park Five
Vera Alves
In 1989 — as New York City was reeling from the “Central Park Five” case in which Trisha Meili, a white woman who was jogging in Central Park and found raped and brutally beaten — Trump took out an ad calling for a reimposition of the state’s death penalty.
Two decades later, the five Black and Latino men, who were arrested as teens for the crime and served sentences that varied between six and 13 years, were exonerated based in part on DNA evidence. One, Yusef Salaam, won a primary in 2023 for a seat on New York’s city council.
Despite the exoneration, PolitiFact found that, on at least five occasions, Trump has expressed that he continues to believe the original verdict that the men were guilty and that a settlement made by the city was a mistake.
— Samantha Putterman, PBS
Fact-check: Trump misleads about results of post-2020 election lawsuits
Vera Alves
Referring to the lawsuits he and allies filed alleging irregularities in the 2020 presidential election that he lost, Trump said, “No judge looked at it. … They said we didn’t have standing. A technicality. Can you imagine a system where a person in an election doesn’t have standing? The president of the United States doesn’t have standing. That’s how we lost.”
This is misleading.
The lawsuits failed for various reasons. Some were dismissed for lacking standing, which means the judge ruled that the plaintiff didn’t have a stake. Some others had errors in the filings. But in many cases, judges determined that the allegations lacked proof.
A Campaign Legal Center analysis found at least 10 cases that were decided on the merits.
— Louis Jacobson, PBS
Fact-check: Trump downplays past false comments about Harris’ race
Vera Alves
Trump said of Harris’ race, “I read where she was not Black ... and then I read that she was Black, and that's okay. Either one was okay with me. That's up to her.”
In July remarks to the National Association of Black Journalists, Trump said Harris was Indian and then "made a turn" and "became a Black person."
PBS rated that statement Pants on Fire.
This is blatant mischaracterisation of Harris’ heritage and how she has spoken about, and has identified with, her racial background and ethnicity.
Harris, born of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, has long identified as a Black woman who grew up in a multicultural household. She attended a historically Black university, pledged an historically Black sorority, and has given interviews and written about her experience embracing her Indian culture while living as a Black woman.
— Amy Sherman, PBS
Another break
Vera Alves
When we return, it'll be time for closing statements from both candidates.
Meanwhile, time for some more fact-checking.
Vera Alves
Trump said Chinese cars will kill the US automotive industry. He said they'll whack tariffs on them to stop them coming into the country.
Vera Alves
"We have invested in clean energy, to the point we are opening up factories around the world," Harris said.
Part of building a clean energy economy includes investing in American made products and growing American manufacturing, she said.
Vera Alves
She is giving examples of natural disasters and hiked up insurance costs as the result of climate change.
Vera Alves
"The former president said climate change is a hoax... but it is very real," Harris said.
Vera Alves
In the first hour of the presidential debate, 71% of grassroots donors to Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign were women, a campaign official told CNN.
Vera Alves
Now on to climate change.
Vera Alves
"I absolutely support... private healthcare options," Harris said.
"Remember when an insurance company could deny, if a child had asthma, if someone was a breast cancer survivor... "
"The affordable care act has eliminated the ability for insurance companies to deny existing conditions," Harris said.
Harris points out her government has capped the cost of insulin and the cost of prescriptions for seniors.
"We have strengthed the Affordable Care Act," Harris said.
Harris says she's not going to take people's guns away
Vera Alves
Kamala Harris says both she and her running mate Tim Walz are gun owners and Trump is lying when he says she wants to take away people's guns. "Stop with that," she says.
Fact: Trump wrongly claims Harris tried to negotiate a deal between Putin and Ukraine
Vera Alves
Harris, in her role as vice president, did meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the days before Russia invaded Ukraine. But Harris did not meet with Putin, and there were no negotiations between the three.
Harris met Zelenskyy during the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 19, 2022.
“This is also a chance for me to reiterate the position of the United States as it relates to Ukraine,” Harris said.
“As I have said earlier today to our allies around the world, the United States take seriously the importance of the integrity and the territorial integrity of Ukraine and your sovereignty. And the United States stands with Ukraine in this regard. If Russia further invades your country, as I mentioned earlier today, we will impose swift and severe economic sanctions.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.
— Aaron Sharockman, PBS
Vera Alves
Trump said he backed Obamacare as it wouldn't have been right to "let it rot".
He wanted to save it and make it "as good as it could be" but it's "still never going to be great and too expensive for people."
He said he'll look at a plan that could be cheaper. Until concepts of a plan come to fruition, he will continue to back Obamacare.
The moderator asks if he has a plan and he says "I have concepts of a plan, I'm not president right now".
Vera Alves
Trump said Obamacare was "lousy healthcare, always was".
He said he inherited a dodgy health system.
Vera Alves
Trump is talking over the moderators who are asking to move on.
Vera Alves
Trump has doubled back around unprompted saying Harris wants to take guns from people and defund the police.
Vera Alves
Harris is saying she wants to talk about plans and policy, instead of constant belittling and name-calling.
Vera Alves
"Clearly I'm not Joe Biden," Harris says, smiling. "And I'm certainly not Donald Trump. What I do offer is a new generation of leadership for our country."
She says she has a plan and wants to talk about the plan, rather than disparaging people.
"I believe in what we can do to strengthen our small businesses, which is why I have a plan, lets talk about our plans."
Vera Alves
Trump said he built one of the greatest economies in the history of the world. He said the democrats don't know what makes a good economy.
Vera Alves
Trump is saying the Central Park Five plead guilty. He is referencing a 1989 case of five teenagers who were wrongfully convicted of raping a woman in Central Park.
Vera Alves
This the most divisive presidency in the history of our country, Trump says.
Vera Alves
"Let's remember how Donald Trump started, he owned land he owned building, he was investigated because he refused to rent to black families," Harris says.
"Let's remember this is the same individual who took out a full-page ad in the NY Times calling for the execution of five latino boys, who were innocent.
"This is the same individual who spread birther lies about the former president of the US."
I think American people want better than that," she says, adding that through her travels across America she meets a lot of people. "We see in each other a friend, we see in each other a neighbour."
Vera Alves
"I think its honestly a tragedy that we have someone who wants to be president who has consistently used race over his career to divide the American people," Harris responded.
Vera Alves
When asked about the appropriateness of weighing in on Harris' ethnicity, he said "he doesn't care".
Vera Alves
New topic, race and politics.
Vera Alves
Trump said the Democrats did the "most embarrassing withdrawal".
Vera Alves
In response to Harris' comments about Trump inviting the Taliban to Camp David and negotiating with them, he said he got involved because they were doing the killing.
He told them "don't do it anymore, if you do you'll have problems". He said for 18 months the US had nobody killed.
Vera Alves
"I agree with President Biden's decision to pull out of Afghanistan." Harris said.
"Four presidents said they would and Joe Biden did," she said, adding that American taxpayers are no longer paying for that war, as a result.
Harris said Trump negotiated with the Taliban.
Even Trump's security advisor said it was "a weak deal", she said, saying Trump negotiated directly with a terrorist organisation and invited the Taliban to Camp David.
"This... former president, as president, invited them to Camp David because he does not appreciate the role and responsibility of the president of the US to be Commander-in-Chief."
Vera Alves
Afghanistan is the next topic in the debate.
Vera Alves
Trump said they sent Harris in to negotiate with Putin and Zelenskyy and that "three days later the war started".
"That's not true," Harris says.
Harris said "I said at the beginning of this debate 'you're gonna hear a bunch of lies from this fella'".
Harris said the alliances America has are reliant on its relationships with other countries. "That is very much what is at stake here," she says.
"The American people have a right to rely on a president that understands the significance of America's role and responsibility to ensure there's stability," she adds.
Vera Alves
Trump said Putin would be sitting in Moscow and he wouldn't have lost 300,000 people if he was leader of the US.
'If Donald Trump was president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now' - Harris
Vera Alves
"Because of our support, the air defence, the artillery... Ukraine stands as an independent and free country," Harris says.
"If Donald Trump was president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now" and he would have his eyes on the rest of Europe, starting with Poland.
The NATO and European allies are "thankful" that Trump is not president, Harris said.
She said Putin would "eat" Trump "for lunch."
Vera Alves
Harris said she met with the Ukraine president before the war started, and shared American intelligence with him so the country could defend itself.
Vera Alves
"You're not running against Joe Biden, you're running against me," Harris tells Trump.
Vera Alves
"Biden had no idea how to talk to him [Putin]. Trump said "this could lead to WWIII".
Who's doing the most talking?
Vera Alves
CNN is reporting at the first break, former President Donald Trump clocked in at approximately 28 minutes, 22 seconds of speaking time, while Vice President Kamala Harris’ time came in at approximately 21 minutes, 25 seconds.
Vera Alves
Trump said he'll get Putin and Zelenskyy together to solve the war.
STORY CONTINUES
The candidates clashed over issues such as immigration, foreign policy and healthcare, but the debate was light on specific policy details. Instead, Harris’ aggressive approach succeeded in putting the focus on Trump.
Harris delivered a lengthy attack on abortion limits, speaking passionately about women denied emergency care and victims of incest unable to terminate their pregnancies due to statewide bans that have proliferated since the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated a nationwide right in 2022. Three Trump appointees were in the majority of that ruling.
She also claimed Trump would support a national ban, an assertion Trump called a lie.
Trump, who has sometimes struggled with messaging on abortion, claimed falsely that Harris and Democrats support infanticide, which - as moderator Linsey Davis noted - is illegal in every state.
“As I said, you’re going to hear a bunch of lies,” Harris said.

The 90-minute debate was at the National Constitution Centre in Philadelphia.
There was no live audience and microphones were muted when it was not a candidate’s turn to speak.
Early voting in the election will start in some states just days after the debate.
The encounter was particularly important for Harris, with opinion polls showing that more than a quarter of likely voters feel they do not yet know enough about her, in contrast with the well-known Trump.
The televised debate also offered Harris, a former prosecutor, a chance to make her case against Trump, whose felony convictions, outspoken backing for supporters convicted of the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol and frequent falsehoods all offer plenty of fertile ground.
It was the first time the candidates have met and follows weeks of personal attacks on Harris by Trump and his allies that have included racist and sexist insults.
Trump’s advisers and fellow Republicans urged him to focus on illegal immigration and high prices, issues that play well with voters, and portraying Harris as too liberal for the country.

“There’s no floor for him in terms of how low he will go, and we should be prepared for that,” Harris said in an earlier radio interview.
Presidential debates do not always move the needle, but they can transform the dynamics of a race.
President Joe Biden’s faltering performance against Trump in June was so damaging that it eventually led him to abandon his campaign.
The candidates are effectively tied in the seven battleground states likely to decide the election, according to polling averages compiled by the New York Times.
“There is more for Kamala Harris to gain and more for her to lose,” said Mitchell McKinney, a former adviser to the US Commission on Presidential Debates, since she remains somewhat of an unknown for many voters.
Viewers would be looking for where she stands on various issues.
But just as important, they will look to see how she handled herself against Trump.
Trump, by contrast, is already well-defined.
“You’re either for him or against him” at this point, McKinney said.

Earlier, a Harris campaign official said the vice-president was expected to hammer Trump on abortion and describe him as unfit to lead.
She is also expected to tout her plans to strengthen the middle class and lower costs for consumers.
Abortion has been a top issue for Harris and Democrats since 2022, when the US Supreme Court - powered by three Trump appointees - eliminated a nationwide right to the procedure in a broadly unpopular decision.
She has also sought to tie Trump to Project 2025, a conservative blueprint from the Heritage Foundation think tank that proposes expanding executive power, eliminating environmental regulations and making it illegal to ship abortion pills across state lines, among other right-wing goals.
Trump has offered shifting rhetoric on abortion while distancing himself from Project 2025, even though it has links to many of his former advisers.
Trump will tie Harris to the Biden administration’s immigration policy, attacking them for record levels of migrant crossings before a recent spate of executive orders drove the numbers down dramatically.
He will also likely blame Harris for high consumer prices that have Americans feeling pessimistic about the economy despite strong job and wage growth.