Presidential debates are not an exact science, but there are indirect elements that can falsify many hypotheses. The conclusion of analysts, commentators, and political strategists is that Kamala Harris clearly won the first face-to-face with Donald Trump. And the first provisional polls confirm this. In addition to that, the reactions from the parties and campaigns indicate that the perception is correct. Minutes after the lights went out, the Democratic candidate's team began telling anyone who would listen that they wanted a new face-to-face as soon as possible. Minutes after the live broadcast ended, President Donald Trump took to his social media to claim that he had the best debate of his life and that it was quite an achievement given that it was "three against one," referring to Harris and the ABC moderators. And if that wasn't enough, the billionaire did something that is never done on these occasions: he himself went down to the press room to activate the damage control mode.
Republican presidential debates are a grand spectacle that mobilizes hundreds of journalists, as well as hundreds of political operatives, including congressmen, senators, and governors. The meeting on Tuesday was at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one of the swing states where the elections will be decided. It is customary for figures from both parties, established and emerging, to walk through the press center and the so-called spin room both before and after the face-to-face, precisely to do lobbying, dissemination, promotion of their candidate, and themselves. But it is not normal for one of the two contenders to personally do that work.
After 11:30 p.m., Trump appeared to attack Harris, defend his performance, and downplay it, stating that the Democrats want another debate because "she did so terribly." Earlier, he had sent his second, J. D Vance, to do the dirty work. And to the main stage of the new GOP, from North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to Florida Senator Marco Rubio, including all kinds of congressmen and governors. But the room erupted in commotion, a monumental circle, and hundreds of flashes when the great leader took the stage. When asked why he appeared if he was so convinced he had excelled, the former president simply pointed out: "because I was asked to."
Republican National Committee co-chair, Lara Trump, who is also his daughter-in-law, stated that they are ready for a new round. "We wish we had two more debates. Normally we have three presidential debates. Kamala Harris has said she only wants one so far. Donald Trump would definitely be willing to do another one," she affirmed. But her boss and father-in-law was less specific, leaving it all in a very open "we'll see."
Kamala Harris addresses her supporters after the debate with Donald Trump.Jacquelyn MartinAP
The Republican campaign was trying, somewhat desperately, to plug the leaks, symbolized best by one of the panelists on FOX who agreed that "the former president had a bad night" and had been surpassed. Or by Senator Lindsey Graham's summary in talks with journalists on the ground, describing the night as a "disaster" and calling for Trump's preparers to be fired. The president, accustomed to overwhelming, never had control, quickly became defensive, and was cornered by Harris, who was very comfortable throughout the night.
Not once did she, very disciplined, organized but not robotic, who upon entering the stage approached an uncomfortable rival and extended her hand in introduction, lose her composure, although at one point she came close, wanting to respond to the attacks.
Viewers did not see the "pathetic, completely useless" vice president that he has portrayed at his rallies and social media posts. But they did see a nervous former president, shouting at times, being reprimanded for not sticking to the time limits and being fact-checked live by the moderators, unlike what happened in June when he overwhelmingly defeated Joe Biden. "Tonight, the United States could see the leader I have had the pride of working with for three and a half years. It wasn't even close. Vice President Harris showed that she is the best choice to lead our nation forward. We are not going back," precisely reacted the president.
The most loyal assets of the Republican apparatus insisted at the end of the evening that Trump had "tried to talk about public policies," but Harris had made it impossible. That "the frustration conveyed by President Trump is that of millions of Americans in the face of Vice President Kamala Harris's attitude that everything is fine," according to Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, one of the regulars at Mar-a-Lago, the billionaire's headquarters. But Trump's presence was unanimously considered as a concession of defeat, especially when he repeated numbers without any context referring to alleged internal polls on the debate's perception: "they indicate 90%, 60%, 72%, 71%, 89%," he stated.
"What we learned tonight is that Kamala Harris is really quite good at provoking people," conceded Byron Donalds, Republican African-American congressman. "The way Trump, a potential autocrat, uses Orban, a real autocrat, as a personal reference is too perfect. Just like his praise for Xi and Putin for being 'strong,' his manifest envy for the irresponsible power they have is one of his few sincere expressions," criticized Russian chess player and opposition figure Alexei Kasparov, referring to one of Trump's strangest attempts to defend his legacy. When Harris told him he was a "laughingstock" on the international scene, and among world leaders, Trump had no better idea than to turn to Orban, a second-tier leader and pariah in the European Union.
In the three hours following the debate, Democrats raised $24 million through their ActBlue donation platform, a significant amount now that the final weeks of the campaign are approaching and ads in swing states become more necessary. And expensive. A happy night with an unbeatable ending: the explicit support of Taylor Swift, a singer followed and adored by millions of people.