Trump is "adjusting theatrics" prior to the Harris debate

In American presidential debates, policy often takes a backseat. In my experience covering six U.S. presidential elections, I have never seen a debate won solely based on an exceptional policy proposal.

While the moderators from ABC News will certainly pose serious questions about issues like tax cuts and foreign affairs to Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in Tuesday's debate, it’s the moments of theatricality—such as a sharp retort, an unsettling remark, or a display of confidence—that typically capture viewers' attention.

This understanding is reflected in the advice given to Donald Trump. According to one of his advisers, Trump has focused less on policy and more on “fine-tuning the theatrics of his performance.” Trump’s expertise in engaging television audiences is well-known.

For Kamala Harris, this emphasis on performance presents a challenge. With limited preparation time and this being her debut on the presidential debate stage, she faces a steep learning curve. Donald Trump, by contrast, has participated in five presidential debates.

In contrast to Trump’s approach, Harris has been immersing herself in policy details while sequestered in a Pennsylvania hotel over the past week.

Her team has also worked to prepare her for the visual and emotional aspects of the debate. They have reportedly constructed a mock debate stage, complete with podium and lighting, and have enlisted top advisers to portray Trump—one even donning Trump’s distinctive suits and red ties.

This preparation aims to help Harris adapt to the theatrical nature of the debate.

Additionally, her team has reviewed hours of footage from Trump’s past debates to identify strategies that have proven effective or ineffective against him.

Despite these efforts, Harris has not received any last-minute boosts in public opinion.

A recent New York Times poll has unsettled Democrats by showing a tight race between the candidates and revealing that a significant portion of voters feel they do not know enough about Harris.

A Democratic strategist expressed concerns about the upcoming debate, noting that Harris appeared tentative in a recent CNN interview.

Reflecting on the 2016 Republican primary debates, it is clear that being "tentative" is not a successful strategy against Trump.

With the American public being more familiar with Donald Trump than Kamala Harris, the stakes for Harris appear higher going into Tuesday night’s debate.

One strategy Harris might employ is to focus on making Trump appear as if he’s lost the debate.

Her team aims to provoke Trump into exhibiting his most "Trumpian" behavior, hoping that if viewers witness him acting out, as he did in a 2020 debate against Joe Biden, it could lead to a loss of support for him.

Sources indicate that Harris may use specific terms like “old” (to refer to outdated ideas or narratives) and “small” (to criticize narrow thinking or beliefs) to provoke Trump, given his sensitivity about his age and his reaction to size-related comments.

However, provoking Trump into rude interruptions might be challenging due to the debate format, where candidates' microphones will be muted during their opponent’s speaking time.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of these strategies and what constitutes a win for either candidate remains uncertain until the debate unfolds.

The unpredictable nature of debates is something even Joe Biden can attest to.