The first presidential debate between Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican incumbent Donald Trump was a heated affair, with both candidates clashing on a range of issues including inflation, abortion, immigration, and foreign policy.
Following the 90-minute debate, Harris’s campaign called for a second encounter, suggesting that a second debate should take place in October, just days before the election.
Trump, however, expressed his skepticism about participating in another debate, claiming that Harris’s request was a result of her perceived defeat in the initial debate. “She wants to do another debate because she got beaten tonight. But I don’t know if we are going to do another one,” he said.
Trump went on to declare the first debate his “best ever”, highlighting his perception of Harris’s weakness and the Democrats’ alleged efforts to “destroy our country.”
The debate itself was characterized by intense exchanges and a lack of detailed policy proposals. Harris’s assertive approach successfully shifted the focus onto Trump, and according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS, 63% of registered voters who watched the debate felt that Harris performed better than Trump.
With the election just weeks away, the call for a second debate adds another layer of intrigue to the already contentious 2024 US Presidential election.
