Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are gearing up for their upcoming presidential debate on September 10, marking their first face-off since the Democratic ticket was reshuffled earlier this year.
As the debate approaches, both candidates are utilizing different strategies to shape the narrative and potentially preview their lines of attack against each other.
Former President Trump has been grappling to find a cohesive message to counter Harris' growing momentum. He has experimented with personal attacks, criticized her lack of media appearances, blamed the Biden administration for economic challenges, and scrutinized the handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.
On the other hand, Vice President Harris has been refining her policy positions, aiming to moderate some stances from her previous presidential campaign. She recently emphasized the consistency of her values while adjusting her views on issues like fracking.
Harris is set to unveil the next phase of her economic plan in New Hampshire, focusing on innovation, entrepreneurship, and small businesses. She has expressed intentions to introduce a tax credit to support individuals in starting and expanding businesses.
While Harris took a brief break from campaigning to prepare for the debate, President Biden is gearing up to become a prominent advocate for her in the final campaign stretch, with plans to hold events in crucial battleground states.
Meanwhile, Trump is increasing his public appearances, including virtual engagements and rallies, to bolster his campaign efforts. He recently outlined economic proposals, including plans for tariffs and combating inflation.
Both candidates have been outlining their policy platforms, with Harris emphasizing economic security for the middle class and Trump focusing on economic measures and trade policies.
The upcoming debate follows negotiations between the campaigns regarding event logistics and rules. One notable rule stipulates that candidates' microphones will be muted when not speaking, a point of contention between the Harris and Trump campaigns.
Despite initial disagreements over debate formats, both candidates are gearing up for a high-stakes showdown that will shape the narrative of the presidential race moving forward.
