Kamala Harris attacked Donald Trump for his “many lies” in the first US presidential debate between the pair on Tuesday evening.
The vice-president used her experience as a courtroom prosecutor to put her Republican rival on the ropes and win the key endorsement of Taylor Swift.
Over a 90-minute showdown on NBC, Ms Harris pressed her case against Mr Trump as unfit for office, highlighting his criminal convictions and his opposition to federal protection for abortion.
Mr Trump angrily pushed back against Democratic claims that he is a danger to the Constitution, denying anew that he incited an insurrectionist mob to storm Congress in January 2021.
The tone was a marked shift from that of the debate between Mr Trump and President Joe Biden in June in which the incumbent stumbled on answers. The uncertain performance let to pressure on President Biden to step aside, allowing his VP to put her name on the ballot for November’s vote.
The latest polls have put Ms Harris ahead but with only three percentage points in it there is still a lot to play for.
Here is how the election will be fought on America’s TV screens.
When will the next debate be?
For now, the next TV clash will be between Ms Harris’s running mate, Tim Walz, and Mr Trump’s number two, JD Vance, in New York on October 1.
In UK time, this will be 2am-3.30am on Wednesday October 2 and it will probably be the only showdown between the vice-presidential contenders.
Will there be another debate between Trump and Harris?
Both campaigns said they were open to a second debate but there is no date or network confirmed to host this event.
Michael Tyler, communications director for the Harris-Walz campaign, said: “The debate about debates is over. Donald Trump’s campaign accepted our proposal for three debates – two presidential and a vice-presidential debate.”
When is the election?
Election day is November 5, 2024.
To be eligible to win the presidency, a candidate must receive at least 15 per cent of the vote in four reputable national polls and appear on enough ballots in enough states to total 270 electoral votes.
