Report Details Debate Prep
Kamala Harris is in “debate camp” mode in Pittsburgh, getting ready for her face-off with former President Donald Trump on Tuesday. And from the latest leaks coming out of her prep sessions, it sounds like the wheels are coming off behind the scenes. It’s clear Harris and her team are getting nervous, especially after Trump’s surprisingly strong performance in his June debate with Joe Biden.
Let’s start with Harris’ frustrations about the debate rules. She’s been complaining that having the microphones muted could put her at a disadvantage. Translation? Harris wanted to interrupt Trump or talk over him, but the rules might block that tactic. Either that, or she was hoping Trump would interrupt her so she could play the victim card, painting him as being mean or disrespectful. But now, with those mics potentially off-limits, she’s scrambling for a new strategy.
She’s a bad candidate with no policy proposals but be prepared for the YAASS QUEEN moment https://t.co/BBkSawjbYu
— Sean Agnew (@seanagnew) September 7, 2024
Even funnier is how her prep team seems to be overthinking every little detail—down to whether or not she should shake Trump’s hand. Really? They’re actually spending time strategizing over a handshake like it’s going to be some monumental moment. The hand-wringing doesn’t stop there, though. NBC reports that her team is worried Harris might come off too policy-heavy, similar to Barack Obama’s infamous wonky debate performance in 2012. One of Harris’ aides admitted, “My anxiety… is that they’ll overcook her.” And it sounds like they’re right to be concerned.
But the most laughable leak? Harris is supposedly preparing for Trump to make some kind of derogatory comment toward her. One insider claimed they’re bracing for Trump to mutter something along the lines of “this b—-.” Talk about over-preparing. They’re concocting these fantasy scenarios where Harris gets to deliver a so-called “unscripted” comeback that will make debate history. Here’s the catch: If you spend days planning a viral moment, it’s not exactly unscripted. And the whole plan just feeds into the perception that Harris is overly rehearsed and inauthentic.
We know. That’s always been the plan. To have a comeback that goes viral, rather than be clear about policy which actually informs Americans. https://t.co/dK4mp2uGH3
— Brittany (@bccover) September 7, 2024
Even Trump’s spokesman Steven Cheung found it hilarious, asking, “Why are they even thinking about that word associated with her?” It’s clear they’re trying to bait Trump into making a controversial comment, but anyone who’s watched him debate knows he can turn the tables quickly. If Harris pushes too hard on personal attacks or tries to label him a “convicted felon,” Trump could easily shift the focus back to her record.
And Harris has plenty of vulnerabilities. For starters, her role in the administration’s border crisis, her support of bail funds that freed rioters during the George Floyd protests, and her failure to prosecute violent criminals all give Trump ample ammunition. If she’s hoping to score points as the “former prosecutor,” she may find herself on the receiving end of some hard-hitting critiques about her own track record.
Harris is also planning to play the “I’m from the middle class” card to contrast herself with Trump. But the reality is, under her watch, inflation has hurt the middle class more than ever. Trump doesn’t need to dig deep here—he just has to remind voters that under his administration, the economy was thriving compared to the current state of affairs.