The first debate between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, held on September 10, was seen as a critical moment in the race for the White House. With both candidates locked in a tight race, the 90-minute event hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, gave voters a chance to see their competing visions for America’s future. Moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis, the debate covered a range of pressing issues such as the economy, immigration, abortion, and foreign policy, particularly the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

According to a New York Times/Siena College poll conducted before the debate, Trump led Harris by just 1 percent among likely voters, 48 percent to 47 percent, with 5 percent undecided. The survey also revealed that 28 percent of respondents wanted to learn more about Harris, despite her four years as vice president under Joe Biden. The debate, therefore, was crucial for both candidates as they aimed to sway undecided voters and cement their support base.

The economy, a cornerstone of any presidential debate, took center stage early on. Kamala Harris opened the discussion by promoting her vision of an “opportunity economy.” She outlined a plan that focused on making housing more affordable, expanding the child tax credit, and introducing tax deductions for start-up businesses. Harris also noted that the Biden administration had worked to undo the economic damage left by Trump’s presidency, pointing to inflation as a key issue her administration sought to address.

However, Harris avoided directly answering a pivotal question posed by the moderators: “Are Americans better off now than they were four years ago?” This omission was quickly seized upon by Trump, who took the opportunity to criticize the current administration’s economic performance. He argued that the US economy had faltered under Biden and Harris, blaming them for what he described as “record-breaking inflation.” According to Trump, inflation not only weakens a country’s economic foundations but also leads to social fragmentation. Trump offered trade tariffs, particularly against countries like China, as his solution to improving America’s economic standing.

Immigration was another contentious topic. Trump, known for his hardline stance on immigration, reiterated his concerns about what he sees as a border crisis. He claimed that immigrants were “taking over towns” and, more controversially, repeated a debunked internet rumor that some Haitian migrants were harming pets in local communities. “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs; they’re eating the cats… the pets of the people that live there,” Trump said. The Republican’s rhetoric, however, was quickly disputed by local officials and media reports, which found no evidence of such claims.

Harris, in response, defended the Biden administration’s immigration policies, highlighting her support for a bill aimed at bolstering border security. She accused Trump-friendly congressmen of blocking meaningful immigration reform to boost his political narrative, portraying Trump as a figure using fear tactics to garner support. Harris’s response was an attempt to balance her moderate stance on immigration with the need to address growing concerns over border security among the electorate.

The foreign policy segment of the debate focused heavily on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump took the opportunity to emphasize his pledge to bring the war to a swift end, promising that hostilities between Russia and Ukraine could be stopped “before he’s even sworn into office.” Trump, who has previously boasted of his ability to negotiate with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, claimed that he alone had the diplomatic skills to prevent the war. He also dodged the question of whether he wanted Ukraine to win the conflict, focusing instead on the broader goal of ending the bloodshed, which he described as having already claimed “millions” of lives-a statement that was widely seen as exaggerated.

Harris, on the other hand, accused Trump of appeasing autocrats, arguing that his approach would have allowed Putin to seize Kyiv. She defended the Biden administration’s decision to supply Ukraine with military aid, claiming that this had been key to preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty. The vice president’s position highlighted her commitment to a strong, interventionist foreign policy, one that aligns with Western allies to counter Russian aggression.

The topic of abortion highlighted the stark differences between Harris and Trump. Since the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022, abortion rights have been a hot-button issue in American politics. Harris reaffirmed her commitment to reinstating federal protections for reproductive rights, stressing that “Donald Trump certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body.”

Trump, however, framed the issue as one that should be decided at the state level. He praised the Supreme Court’s decision for returning the power to regulate abortion to voters, emphasizing that this approach aligned with the country’s founding principles. Trump’s stance reflects the broader Republican strategy of decentralizing the issue, placing it in the hands of individual states rather than imposing federal mandates.

In the aftermath of the debate, both candidates claimed victory. Trump declared it his “best debate” yet, though he criticized the moderators for being “very unfair” in their questioning. Harris, meanwhile, took a more cautious approach, acknowledging that her campaign remained an “underdog” but expressing confidence in her ability to sway undecided voters.

Former President Barack Obama, a prominent figure in Harris’s campaign, lauded her performance, stating that she had demonstrated her capacity to be “a president for all Americans.” Harris’s appeal to unity and her focus on inclusivity were central themes throughout her debate responses.

Meanwhile, a CNN flash poll conducted immediately after the debate found that 63 percent of voters believed Harris outperformed Trump, compared to 37 percent who thought Trump had the upper hand. This indicates that while both candidates succeeded in rallying their respective bases, Harris may have gained the edge with undecided voters.

What’s Next?

The debate, with its clear contrasts in policy and leadership style, sets the stage for what promises to be a fiercely contested election. While Trump continues to tap into populist rhetoric and nationalist sentiment, Harris is positioning herself as a unifying figure who can continue Biden’s agenda while forging her own path.

With the election just weeks away and the candidates neck-and-neck in the polls, the outcome of this race will likely hinge on key swing states and the ability of each campaign to mobilize its supporters. For now, Harris appears to have gained some ground in the post-debate analysis, but Trump’s resilient base remains a formidable obstacle. The road to November will undoubtedly be shaped by further debates, campaign strategies, and the evolving political landscape.

As the campaign intensifies, voters will be watching closely to see how both candidates address the country’s most pressing issues, from economic recovery to immigration, and from foreign policy challenges to the future of abortion rights. The first debate may be over, but the battle for the presidency has only just begun.

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