Harris toys with Trump in U.S. presidential debate

Kamala Harris redeemed herself after the June debacle. During the debate, she managed to needle Donald Trump, steering him off-topic and delivering the lines that had previously eluded her boss.

In June, U.S. President Joe Biden's cognitive lapse in the debate was a turning point in his career. He lost track of his thoughts and mistakenly claimed, "I beat Medicare," referring to a popular health-insurance system for seniors. That misstep ended his campaign. On Tuesday, however, Harris delivered a more polished version of the same message: "We have allowed Medicare to negotiate drug prices — on behalf of you, the American people."

By then, the debate was already winding down. Democrats were thrilled, Republicans were angry with the moderators, and Harris saw a slight boost in online betting markets regarding her chances of becoming president.

At a basement watch party in North Carolina, Harris supporters were relieved after the debate. "It was so disheartening. A horrible, sinking feeling," said Yana Whitman of Asheville, referring to the June Biden debate. Now, she praised Harris: "She's doing a great job. She's embarrassing [Trump]."

Whitman was specifically talking about Harris's tactic of dropping subtle digs at Trump, such as referencing supporters leaving his rallies or world leaders mocking him, at points in the debate where he could have done her harm, like during a discussion on the southern border.

Trump Couldn't Resist

Instead of focusing on the border, Trump got distracted, saying, "First, let me respond to the rallies," followed by claims about his massive rally crowds. He then veered into talk about a potential world war, conspiracies about immigrants eating pets, and eventually circled back to his rallies.

The border, which was supposed to be Trump's strong point, was overshadowed by Harris's narrative that Trump cares more about himself than the public. She even got him to revisit the 2020 election and defend his supporters from the January 6 Capitol attack.

Donnie Jones, a graphic designer from North Carolina who hadn't watched the first debate, was at the Asheville watch party and expressed optimism: "I'm feeling good now," he said.

Trump's Supporters Still Back Him

Trump's supporters, however, remained confident. He posted several unscientific polls where his fans declared him the winner, writing on Truth Social, "I thought that was my best Debate, EVER, especially since it was THREE ON ONE!" The "three on one" remark referred to the ABC moderators who fact-checked him multiple times, including when he made baseless claims about Haitian immigrants in Ohio eating pets.

One of ABC's moderators pointed out that the local mayor confirmed there were no reports of pets being taken for food. Trump insisted he saw it on TV.

Republican Frustration with Moderators

Many Republicans felt the moderators unfairly targeted Trump. Robert Kennedy Jr., a new ally of Trump's, said, "We had moderators who were clearly biased," criticizing them for not fact-checking Harris when she suggested Trump was threatening political violence over his comments about electric cars.

Some Republicans conceded Trump had a weak performance. On CNN, two GOP analysts agreed he had a poor night, with one comparing it to a basketball game: "You can’t blame the ref if you miss the shot."

Trump briefly pressed Harris on some left-wing policies from her failed 2020 campaign but struggled to land blows, especially when complaining about being labeled a threat to democracy in light of the criminal charges he's facing. He quipped, "I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things they say about me."

Abortion and Jan. 6 Take Center Stage

Harris, however, gained momentum when discussing abortion. She criticized Trump for his unclear stance on abortion pills, pointing to the suffering of women and children under restrictive laws. She shared stories of women left without medical care after miscarriages and children forced to carry pregnancies from incest.

Regarding the January 6 Capitol attack, Harris appealed to moderate Republicans disillusioned by the event, saying Trump had been fired by 81 million voters and had difficulty accepting it. She invited Republicans to join her in standing for democracy.

Harris also reassured voters on other issues, like gun ownership and oil production, and proudly touted her support from Republican figures like former Vice President Dick Cheney and the late Senator John McCain.

A Reality Check

Despite the excitement among Democrats, debate performances don't always guarantee electoral success. Hillary Clinton won all three debates against Trump in 2016, according to polls, yet lost the election. Similarly, Mitt Romney was seen as winning his first debate with Barack Obama in 2012 but ultimately lost.

Biden’s June disaster remains an anomaly, as it significantly impacted his campaign. After Tuesday, however, it feels like a distant memory.