After the panic caused by the first presidential debate on June 27th between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, Biden officially ended his re-election campaign. Now, Vice President Kamala Harris has stepped up to spearhead the race, and the second presidential debate between Harris and Trump is vastly different from the first.
The debate took place on Tuesday, September 10th, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The debate was co-moderated by “World News Tonight” anchor and managing editor David Muir and ABC News Live “Prime” anchor Linsey Davis. Before Tuesday night, ABC News did not commit to live fact-checking, but as the event went underway, both moderators stepped in to debunk baseless claims, a departure from the first debate. Some of the recurring topics were economy, health care, democracy, character and fitness, abortion, foreign policy, immigration, and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
When discussing their policies on the economy, both candidates acknowledged the high cost of living, with Harris focusing on the cost of housing while Trump narrowed in on groceries. On the topic of global issues like Gaza and Ukraine, neither candidate truly laid out a plan. Immigration was also a hot subject, and Trump often redirected his answers to it. At one point, Trump claimed “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country and it’s a shame.” Muir corrected the claim, saying, “I just want to clarify here…ABC News did reach out to the city manager there. He told us there have been no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community. However, Trump refuted the correction, describing how he had seen people on TV confirming the story.
When Trump was asked whether he regrets anything from what he did on January 6th, he began by defending the rioters and tried to pivot to migrants and border issues. When asked again whether he regretted his conduct, Trump did not answer the question, saying he had only delivered a speech.
Harris spoke strongly in favor of women’s reproductive rights, saying “I absolutely support reinstating the protections of Roe v. Wade.” She promises to ‘proudly’ sign the bill when Congress puts back the protections of Roe v Wade. This policy would allow for restrictions after fetal viability. She also reiterated that she does not plan to ban fracking- known for its detrimental environmental and health impacts- nor does she intend to ‘take away anyone’s guns. Harris used the first question to lean into her plan for an “opportunity economy,” presenting herself as the candidate of the middle class. While her plans and policies aren’t clearly defined, she has made her presence as a viable leader known; throughout the night, Harris baited Trump on several key issues, which allowed her to take the offensive.
The question remains if this debate has shifted the tide of voter’s opinions, but it has spurred both campaigns to solidify their standing. Don’t forget to catch the upcoming vice-presidential debate hosted by CBS News on October 1st in New York City, with Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota and GOP Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.
