Democratic elected officials and political operatives praised Vice President Kamala Harris for her debate performance against former President Donald Trump on Tuesday night.
“Tonight, America got to see the leader I've been proud to work with for three and a half years. It wasn't even close. Vice President Harris proved she is the best choice to lead our nation forward. We will not back down,” President Biden posted on X early Wednesday morning after the debate ended.
“Well, that was a knockout punch. I'm looking forward to seeing how Republicans try to spin this,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer posted in another pro-Harris message.
Trump and Harris shared the debate stage for the first time this election cycle on Tuesday night at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The two sparred over major issues that voters care about, including the economy, immigration and abortion.
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Screenshot: Fox News simulcast of ABC News presidential debate (Screenshot: ABC News presidential debate simulcast on Fox News)
Harris' Democratic allies in Congress, as well as Democratic pundits, praised Harris for how she “destroyed” Trump's career and that voters witnessed a “no-nonsense leader who will work day in and day out” for the American people.
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Harris' campaign also released a statement Tuesday night, proclaiming with a lap of honor that “Harris dominated the stage on every issue that matters to the American people.”
“Under the bright lights, the American people got to see the choice they will face at the ballot box this fall: either moving forward with Kamala Harris or moving backward with Trump. That's what they saw tonight, and what they should see in a second debate in October. Vice President Harris is ready for a second debate. Is Donald Trump?” Harris' campaign posted.
On Tuesday night, Trump and Harris clashed over important issues that voters care about, including abortion, when Harris claimed that Trump's platform would install a national ban on abortion that would not allow for exceptions to the procedure.
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“Today, in more than 20 states, there are Trump-imposed abortion bans that make it a crime for a doctor or nurse to provide medical care in a state. That means life in prison. Trump-imposed abortion bans that make no exceptions, even for rape and incest, capture what that means,” Harris said Tuesday night from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, right, and former U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands during the second presidential debate at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. Trump and Harris come into Tuesday’s debate seeking the same goal, a moment that will help give them the edge in a race that polls show is essentially tied. Photographer: Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Getty Images)
“A survivor of a crime of violation of her body does not have the right to make a decision about what happens to her body. That is immoral and you do not have to abandon your faith or deeply held beliefs to accept that the government and Donald Trump certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body.”
Moments earlier, however, Trump said he believes in exceptions for abortion, similar to former President Reagan.
“I believe in exceptions for rape, incest and death of the mother,” Trump said during the debate. “I believe very strongly in that. Ronald Reagan believed that too. Eighty-five percent of Republicans knew that exceptions are very important.”
Trump and Harris also traded barbs over the issue of crime in the United States, with Harris defending allegations that immigration crime has increased under her watch by citing Trump's legal troubles.
“Yeah, it's a lot higher because of them,” Trump said during the debate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, speaking of crimes committed by illegal immigrants in the United States, some of whom entered the country under Biden's watch.
“They allowed criminals, many, many millions of criminals,” Trump continued, “they allowed terrorists, they allowed common street criminals, they allowed drug dealers to come into our country. And now, in the United States, countries like Venezuela are telling them never to come back or we will kill them. Do you know that crime in Venezuela and in countries around the world is way down?”
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Vice President Kamala Harris, right, and former President Donald Trump during the second presidential debate at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. Trump and Harris come into Tuesday’s debate seeking the same goal, a moment that will help give them the edge in a race that polls show is essentially tied. Photographer: Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Getty Images)
Harris responded by mentioning Trump's criminal convictions and pending impeachment charges.
“Well, I think this is very empowering coming from someone who has been prosecuted for national security crimes, economic crimes and election interference and has been found responsible for sexual assault,” Harris said.
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“And his next major court appearance will be in November, when he is sentenced. And let's be clear about where everyone stands on what's important in terms of respect for the rule of law and respect for law enforcement.”
Following the debate, Harris' campaign called for a second debate in October. Trump had repeatedly called for more debates against Harris, having held only one other presidential debate in June against President Biden.
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“It was fun. Let's do it again,” Harris adviser Brian Fallon said moments after the debate ended.
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