The vice president made clear-eyed policy points and an impassioned plea for Americans to “turn the page” on the divisiveness and conspiratorial rhetoric that Trump trotted out in unhinged, boring rants.
I don’t know about you, but I think Kamala Harris took Trump to the woodshed in what will likely be the only presidential debate before Election Day.
Their matchup played out largely as expected: Kamala Harris laid down facts and future policy initiatives while Trump traded in racist conspiracies and meandering lies.
However, what struck me midway through the 90-minute debate was that I had never seen two presidential candidates on the same stage as different as Harris and Trump.
One is a former prosecutor and lifelong public servant who offers sane, cleared-eyed policy ideas and a vision for America’s future, while the other repeats hateful, unfounded conspiracies about Haitian migrants in Ohio eating people’s pets.
One is a champion for women’s reproductive rights; the other falsely alleges that some states allow for unwanted babies to be murdered after birth.
No matter the topic, from the economy to the wars in Ukraine and the withdrawal from Afghanistan, Harris managed to parry Trump’s every lie and reprehensible insult.
And while the vice president could have done a better job of explaining her plan for improving America’s “opportunity economy” and how her administration would help first-time homeowners, Trump offered nothing close to a cogent thought on the economy – or any topic – of the debate.
Harris further illustrated the difference between the two by baiting Trump with digs at his rally crowd sizes, noting how some goers were seen walking out on him while he blathered on about Hannibal Lector and shark attacks, a slight that clearly stung the former president in his fragile ego.
She also put Trump on his heels for his ties to the extremist Project 2025, which includes a national abortion ban and restrictions on IVF.
Harris repeatedly implored voters to “turn the page on this same old tired rhetoric” that has divided Americans and prompted hateful displays like the white nationalist protests in Charlottesville and the Jan. 6 insurrection, both of which Harris blamed solely on Trump.
“We don’t need a leader who is constantly trying to have Americans point a finger at each other,” said Harris in her closing statement, to which Trump responded with more of the same fear-mongering that seemed less ominous and more pathetic than ever coming from a bloated 78-year-old relic of a bygone era.
By the end of the debate, Trump was bragging about endorsements from the likes of Hungarian autocrat and all-around fiend Viktor Orban, hoping to bolster his bonafides against the night’s clear winner.
Look, I can’t imagine that any hardcore Trump supporters were swayed by Harris’ performance.
But there are likely enough voters out there who watched Trump’s shameful, undisciplined antics – coupled with Harris’ exemplary performance – who are now more secure in casting their vote for her.
Plus, post-debate, Taylor Swift announced she was officially backing Kamala.
You can’t ask for a much better debate night than that.
