WASHINGTON: Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump will face off next week in their first televised debate, a high-stakes clash that could give the winner an edge in the final race to Election Day.
For Harris, Tuesday's showdown in Philadelphia is a chance to lay out her priorities and prove her mettle against an opponent who has belittled her intelligence and subjected her to racist and sexist attacks.
Trump will have the opportunity to try to slow some of Harris' momentum in a race that has become considerably tighter since she became the Democratic nominee in July.
Most opinion polls show Harris slightly ahead nationally and in most battleground states, but Trump remains within striking distance of winning the Nov. 5 election.
Debates can have huge consequences, and this one could be the only one. President Joe Biden dropped out of the race after a shaky performance in June. In 2016, however, Hillary Clinton was considered the winner in all three of her debates against Trump, but he won the election.
Here's what to look out for in the all-important televised event:
Change candidates
In an election in which a former president faces the current vice president, both candidates paradoxically present themselves as candidates of “change” who will alter the status quo.
Harris is seeking to take credit for the Biden administration's accomplishments without being burdened by its mistakes, while suggesting his presidency would mark a new beginning for the country.
Despite having spent four years in the White House, between 2017 and 2021, Trump has once again presented himself as an insurgent who opposes Washington's institutions.
But he has also touted his experience on the world stage compared to Harris, promising, for example, that he could end conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and protect the country from a nuclear-armed North Korea or Iran.
Getting personal
Since Harris became the nominee, Trump has questioned the authenticity of her heritage and unleashed a series of personal attacks in speeches and social media posts, defying aides and allies who have told him to focus more on his policies.
If he repeats those attacks on the debate stage, he could alienate undecided voters, particularly those who are skeptical of his presidential temperament.
In their 2016 debates against Clinton, Trump frequently raged at her, interrupting moderators, pointing fingers at her and calling her names. He tried the same tactic with Biden in 2020, prompting Biden to say “Will you just shut up, man?” after Trump interrupted him several times.
So far, Harris has largely ignored Trump's personal attacks. Some viewers will be watching closely to see how she will behave toward Trump if he brings his bullying attitude to the debate stage.
To provide the starkest contrast to Trump, he will have to show that he will not let himself be dragged down the drain with him.
Opportunities
The debate is Harris' chance to establish her own political identity for the millions of Americans who tune in to watch.
Harris is not as well-known as recent Democratic presidential candidates who preceded her, which could be a big advantage in an election in which voters repeatedly said they were tired of a Biden-Trump rematch.
Harris, a former California attorney general, will have a platform to showcase her skills as a prosecutor. She could seek to hold Trump accountable for his conduct after the 2020 election, including allegations that he incited a mob of supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a last-ditch attempt to stay in power.
Her courtroom experience may also allow her to refute Trump's falsehoods in real time more effectively than Biden was able to do during their June debate.
