US media favored Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris in her intense debate against Republican rival Donald Trump. Unlike President Joe Biden’s July debate performance, Harris appeared confident and focused during the prime-time event in Philadelphia. ABC News, which hosted the debate, highlighted the falsehoods and conspiracies Trump utilized in his attempt to outshine Harris. He was quickly put on the defensive as Harris wasted no time attacking him.
Politico declared Harris the clear winner of the debate, noting that she repeatedly baited Trump and knocked him off balance. The New York Times echoed this sentiment, stating that Harris “owned much of the night” by using her prosecutorial skills to put Trump on the defensive. Harris was initially expected to defend the Biden administration, but instead, Trump found himself defending his own record as President.
The New York Times observed that Trump looked “miserable,” often referring to crowd sizes and conspiracies, which underscored his difficult night. Harris was well-prepared to lead him astray. The Washington Post reported that Trump frequently strayed from facts and relied on debunked theories about the 2020 presidential election and immigration. Harris called out Trump’s “same old tired playbook” of lies, grievances, and name-calling, asserting that he had no plan for the people and was more interested in self-defense.
CNN noted that Trump took every bait Harris used to throw him off his game, highlighting her preparation and strategic retorts designed to enrage him. Trump nearly choked on Harris’ baits, even bizarrely insisting that migrants eat Americans’ pets. Fox News attempted to balance their coverage but focused on Trump’s sparring with the debate moderators from ABC News over fact-checking.
Trump and Harris faced off in their first televised debate on Tuesday. Initially, Trump was leading in national polls, but Harris’ entry shifted the dynamics. Recent polls indicate a close race, with Harris maintaining a marginal lead over her Republican rival. If Harris wins the November election, she will become the first woman President of the United States.
