US Presidential election: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump debut debate to begin shortly

United States Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are all set for their first head-to-head debate in the race to the November 5 Presidential elections. The highly-anticipated event is scheduled for Tuesday at the National Constitution Centre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and will be broadcast live on television.

Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, who have never met in person so far, will square off at 9 pm (local time) on Tuesday (Wednesday morning in India) for a 90-minute debate hosted by ABC News.

DEBATE THAT COULD CHANGE 2024 RACE

The debate holds significant importance for Harris, as recent opinion polls indicate that over a quarter of potential voters feel they still lack enough information about her. This stands in stark contrast to the highly recognisable former President.

For Harris, a former prosecutor, this debate presents a key opportunity to argue her case against Trump. Experts believe that the former President’s felony convictions, vocal support for those convicted in the January 2021 Capitol attack and his repeated false claims provide ample material for Kamala Harris to leverage during the debate.

Meanwhile, Trump is no stranger to this election cycle’s debates. Earlier, he went head-to-head with President Joe Biden. However, after a widely criticised performance in that debate raised doubts about Biden’s ability to continue his campaign, he made the surprising decision to withdraw from the race on July 21 and endorsed his running mate for the presidency.

For the first time, the two Democratic and Republican candidates will face each other after weeks of intense personal attacks on Harris by Trump and his allies, which even included racist and sexist insults.

TOP ISSUES IN PRESIDENTIAL RACE

According to Vice President’s campaign advisers, Harris will discuss the economy and her plans for bringing down food and housing prices. Meanwhile, Trump’s advisers and fellow Republicans have urged him to focus on issues such as illegal immigration and high prices.

In their campaigns, both candidates have shared their visions through speeches, ads, and various platforms. However, many of their plans remain vague, making it challenging to assess how they would turn these ideas into actual legislation or fund them.

One area of agreement is the decision not to tax workers’ tips. Beyond that, the November election could bring major shifts in policies affecting the tax code, US support for Ukraine, abortion rights, and promises to combat climate change.

WHAT ARE THE RULES?

The debate will follow the same guidelines as the June encounter between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. These rules include muted microphones unless a candidate has the floor, no live audience, no prepared notes, and no communication with staff during breaks.

As reported by ABC News, the format excludes opening statements, while closing remarks will be limited to two minutes per candidate. Each candidate will have two minutes to answer each question, followed by a two-minute rebuttal. Additionally, candidates will have an extra minute to clarify, respond, or provide a follow-up.