Kamala Harris recently stepped away from her bustling campaign schedule to stage a practice round for the upcoming presidential debate against Donald J. Trump. This event took place at Howard University in Washington, a nameplate decidedly convenient for Harris. The session was conducted with a handful of people, clinging onto her from her pre-vice presidential days. However, such information is suggested by sources seeking their safety in the shadows of anonymity.
Among her coterie of helping hands were her old time allies like Rohini Kosoglu, who had served as a chief of staff to Harris in the Senate. Following her exit from the vice president’s office in 2022, miss Kosoglu joined forces with Karen Dunn, an attorney renowned for her contribution to Harris’ rehearsal for the 2020 vice-presidential debate.
Another face joining Harris’ practice pod is Sean Clegg, appreciated for running strategic operations during her 2020 campaign. Contrarily, it’s a notable fact that no one from these circles ever perceived the need to publicize their involvement, which brings forth concerns regarding possible decision biases.
Despite the theatrical rehearsal, the debates between Harris and Trump are yet to reach a solid consensus, with both parties facing the heat of the debate stage. ABC is purported to host the event on September 10, but discord prevails on whether this would be a one-time showdown or repetitive renditions. Harris’ campaign suggested one additional debate in October, to put an end to the debate about debates.
Our vice president is seen relentlessly grilling her team to perfect their slogan to tame the unbridled opponent. Nonetheless, it acts as the foundation for the irony that she’s now using her alma mater as a strategic positioning to level her game against the very spontaneously challenging Trump.
People familiar with the details state that Harris along with her overzealous team are running strategic maneuvers to demonstrate a stark contrast with Trump and yet convey her narrative effectively. This seems desperate considering Harris still needs to familiarize a large population with her contributions as the vice president and her blueprint on addressing issues such as immigration to inflation if she manages to secure an electoral win.
Despite their substantial clashes on public platforms, Harris and Trump have never shared a face-to-face conversation or even found themselves in close proximity, barring his address at the State of Union.
In order to bring Harris up to speed, the team has been joined by Philippe Reines, well-remembered as the ‘method actor-like’ figure who prepared Hillary Clinton back in 2016 for her debates against Trump. His style back then included strapping on kneepads and ordering custom-made suits with an oversized fit. A participant mentioned catching a glimpse of Reines masquerading as Trump, without the wig but sporting a long tie.
Reines, who refrained from commenting on the article, is known for his critique of Trump’s debate performances. In the past comparing them to a ‘malfunctioning appliance’. This seemingly hints at a predilection and it will be interesting to see how an arguably biased individual can guide Harris on tackling an opponent they have strongly opposed.
Witnesses found Harris’ motorcade in close vicinity to Howard University on the same day of the event. Harris even found time to address the young minds of Howard, outside of Cramton Auditorium in the heart of the campus. With a megaphone in hand, she spurred them on with dreams of one day running for President of the United States.
Perhaps drawing comfort from her academic days, Harris continues her affinity for Howard, a strong symbol of Black presence in academia. A graduate in political science and economics in 1986, she appears to find a crowd that aligns with her narratives at Howard.
During her vice-presidential tenure under Biden, she kept an office at Howard leading up to the election, suggesting her close ties with the institution. The Founders Library of the university served as her workspace, unmistakably revealing Howard’s lingering significance in her political journey.
Though her association with Howard University might be longstanding, one could argue if it goes beyond eye-pleasing optics for her supporters. But it is noteworthy that this quiet academic hub was chosen as an exclusive spot for debate preparation, contributing to the much-anticipated show of September 10.
Harris Leverages Old Connections in Desperate Debate Prep with Trump appeared first on Real News Now.
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