Staff Reports
It seems that Vice President Kamala Harris finally dusted off her debating shoes and accepted the rules for the impending clash with Donald Trump, a decision that came in just under the wire before the September 10 debate. In a stunning turn of events, it appears that Harris may have needed a bit of extra time to negotiate the terms, with reports surfacing that she was the last obstacle on the path to the debate stage. It’s almost as if she was channeling the well-known, “I’m not ready” excuse that many students have used over the years—classic avoidance tactics.
Harris’s campaign has already begun their best efforts to paint her as the underdog in this debate scenario. They lamented how the proposed format could leave her facing some sort of tragic disadvantage, claiming it to be a setup that would protect Trump from engaging her head-on. This kind of gaslighting is almost artistic; instead of gearing up for a spirited debate, Harris appears more concerned about the rules than facing off against a former president. Perhaps her campaign staff should spend less time focusing on perceived injustices and more on cramming for a lively political discussion.
New: Kamala Harris campaign has just accepted in a letter to ABC News the rules of next week's debate against Donald trump, including mics being muted when it's not a candidate's turn to speak, per person familiar with debate negotiations.
That had been the final hang-up.
— MJ Lee (@mj_lee) September 4, 2024
In a rather ironic twist, Harris’s camp has expressed concerns about potentially losing the debate before it even begins. Their letter to ABC News indicates a fear of Trump skipping out on the debate if they did not bend to his preferences, which leaves one to wonder: is Harris playing hard to get, or simply playing the role of a reluctant participant? The irony of worrying about jeopardizing a debate while simultaneously complaining about the rules is certainly not lost on astute observers.
Of course, amid all this drama, Trump is out there participating in a Fox News town hall—without notes, no less—proving yet again that he knows how to bring charisma and confidence to the stage. While Harris seems stuck in a quagmire of complaints, Trump is dazzling the audience and cracking jokes. The town hall served as a reminder of how far apart these two candidates really are in terms of stage presence and public engagement.
As the debate approaches, the speculation continues: will Harris be able to hold her own against Trump, or is she destined for another lackluster performance akin to her last debate appearance? Trump himself has gone on record insinuating that even with the luxury of pre-released questions and answers, Harris wouldn’t stand much of a chance. If there’s any truth to that observation, this debate could become a spectacle that showcases the vast difference in experience and capability between the two contenders. Harris better hope her team has come up with a winning strategy, or she may find herself the punchline in the next round of political humor.
