Election season dipped into full swing on the night of September 10 as the major party nominees for President faced off in their first debate.
Vice President Kamala Harris met Former President Donald Trump at their first televised debate against each other since becoming their parties’ respective nominees. The candidates debated issues ranging from the economy to immigration, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pa.
Vice President Harris introduced herself to Trump, saying “let’s have a good debate.” The debate began with both candidates introducing themselves to the American public, and then responding to the first question on the issue of the economy. Further during the runtime, attacks came from the candidates, both personally and over policy.
“They’re eating the dogs, they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” Trump said. “This is a shame.”
During the debate President Trump repeated claims made popular over the weekend about Haitian migrants reportedly eating the pets of neighbors. Despite such allegations becoming widespread and well known, the BBC regards this claim as “baseless.”
During the debate Harris responded to frequent attacks against her policies from her Republican opponent. On her more liberal approach to gun laws Harris cited her, and her running mates’, gun ownership as a reason not to worry about overbearing regulations on gun rights, saying “we’re not taking anybody’s guns away.” Harris also approached the economy, which Trump consistently polls well on, by emphasizing that she “has a plan.”
“Trump was on defense,” Jason, a swing-state voter The Washington Post used in a focus group, said. “Harris stuck to her points, was coherent and frankly, more professional than I have ever seen her. Trump missed too many opportunities.”
After the debate ended the consensus victor seemed to be Vice President Harris. In the Washington Post focus group 23 of 25 swing-state voters said that Harris performed better, and in a Fox News poll 51% of debate viewers graded Harris at least a B for her performance while only 35% of viewers graded Trump at least a B for his performance.
