The first, and likely only, 2024 Presidential Debate took place on Sept. 10 in front of a virtual audience of 67.1 million. Candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris argued on key issues such as the economy, abortion, immigration and healthcare. Each campaign’s objectives were clear from the candidates’ responses and comments.
Harris focused on portraying her opponent as an unserious man who has been disqualified by his past actions. At the same time, Harris attempted to act as the change candidate, despite her membership in the current administration.
Trump intended to saddle Harris to the policies of the current administration, including the unpopular Biden economy. Moreover, Trump emphasized her role in the southern border crisis, where crossings have peaked during the Biden administration.
Throughout the debate, false and dubious statements were made by both candidates. The debate opened with a question on the economy, a contentious topic for the election this November. Harris falsely asserted that her opponent’s administration had left the country with the highest percentage of unemployment since the Great Depression. In fact, when Biden and Harris assumed office in Jan. 2021, the unemployment rate stood at 6.4%, lower than it had been during several other administrations since the 1930s.
The issue of abortion was also intensely disputed. Trump misleadingly suggested former Virginia Democratic governor Ralph Northam supports “after-birth abortions.” Later, Trump argued that Harris’ running mate Tim Walz supports infanticide, a process that is illegal in all 50 states and that Walz has never argued for.
Harris also made a debatable claim saying that Trump would enact a sales tax which would raise prices on the average American family by $4,000 a year. Harris was referring to Trump’s plan to raise tariffs on most imports by 10 percent and at least 60 percent on Chinese imports. Estimates vary significantly on how much this would cost an average family. The figure she quoted came from a progressive policy institute, while the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center reports Trump’s policy would lower after tax incomes by $1,800 a year.
Perhaps one of the most controversial claims Trump made over the course of the night was that Haitian immigrants have been eating the pets of the citizens of Springfield, Ohio. This rumor originated from Facebook and has been discredited, as city police in the town have found no evidence to back up the former president’s claim.
Following the debate and with under a month until Election Day, a Times/Siena poll conducted from Sept. 29 to Oct. 6 shows Harris leading Trump, 49 percent to 47 percent.
While these premature surveys have been unreliable in past elections, the New York Times concludes voters see Harris as the more honest and trustworthy candidate.
However, Trump continues to lead among male voters by 11 points, as 42 percent of respondents said the former president’s policies had a more personal impact on their lives.
While both parties look to debates as an opportunity to sway voters and move the polling needle, this year stands out. Expectations were especially high following the tumultuous debate between Biden and Trump, leading to the former’s unprecedented withdrawal. Despite the historic nature and high expectations for this year’s presidential debate, the consequences have been muted, as the candidates are polling almost identically to how they were prior to the debate and other significant US and world events. The outcome of the presidential election remains a tossup.
