The political arena is a test of strength and versatility, yet also of restraint. Those who keep their calm while standing firmly in their beliefs tend to prevail. As Kamala Harris steps in to share a stage with Donald Trump, she’s facing an advocate known for his unparalleled ability to challenge and provoke. Her dilemma is a complex one, how does she convincingly present her ideas, asserting herself as future commander-in-chief, while rebuffing Trump’s attempts to unbalance her?
Her predicament is even more daunting than that faced by Biden against Trump. Biden’s objective was to affirm his readiness for a second term, something he falteringly achieved. In contrast, Harris’s task entails showcasing a clear path forward alongside commanding leadership staged on her composed demeanor despite Trump’s ceaseless efforts to disrupt her.
Historical strategy advisor Bob Shrum, who advised Gore in 2000 and Kerry in 2004 in their debates with George W. Bush, has given Harris similar guidance. ‘Maintain your composure’, he advocates for Harris. Rather than getting entangled in pointless arguments, he prefers for her to focus on the important discussions that are relevant to the people.
An illustration Shrum raised suggested that Harris immediately dismisses any attempts by Trump to label her as a communist. This outdated stance seems laughable given Harris’s economic policies comfortably align with mainstream Democrat values. Shrum doubts this could be taken seriously by the attentive electorate, which finds it more of an absurdity.
Harris has proven her efficacy in debates throughout her successful regimen of becoming California’s attorney general and in her 2020 presidential campaign. However, squaring off against a figure as steadfast and relentless as Trump is new for her. The former president is touted as ‘the greatest counterpuncher in contemporary political history’ inferring that this debate format favors him more than it does Harris.
Despite these odds, Shrum remains optimistic about Harris’s performance in the debate. He points out Trump’s unfortunate habit of self-revelation through unsuitable behavior, which sends highly unfavorable signals about his character to the voters. Even that aside, Shrum exudes confidence in Harris’s ability to hold her ground.
With Biden off stage, many Democrats are hopeful that this debate will highlight Trump as a less capable candidate. They suggest, he is an individual in his late seventies, whose oratory skills seem to wane more with every passing year, and often struggles to articulate coherent ideas. It would portray him as unable to match the energetic and intelligent cadence of Harris.
Ashley Etienne, Harris’s first-year VP communications director, has advocated for minimal direct engagement with Trump. ‘Guide the course of the debate by letting Trump be Trump’, she suggests. The real challenge here would be for Harris to relinquish her prosecutorial instinct, preventing any point by point, back-and-forth contention from arising.
Speculations suggest that Trump may connect Harris to the unfavorable economic path Biden has treaded, attributing increasing inflation to their policies. In response, Etienne advises that Harris swiftly reorient the conversation from present economic issues toward her future vision and a critique of Trump’s past records.
Democratic advisors anticipate that Harris might anticipate and restrict her reactions to any racial or sexist onslaught by Trump, as she had previously displayed her adeptness at doing so. Aimee Allison, founder of a group supporting women of color, encourages Harris to persistently disregard Trump’s attempts to focus on identity.
Allison regards Trump’s concentration on identity as an antiquated tactic of wielding power, which if ignored, would appear ineffective to those who support Harris. Harris received praise for her campaign which refrains from emphasizing the iconic nature of her bid, as compared to Hillary Clinton’s superfluous ‘I’m with her’ slogan in 2016.
‘The country has matured’, Allison resonates, believing that the focus should be on the candidate’s capabilities rather than their gender or racial background. The nuances of this debate highlight the thorough dynamism in this race, illustrating how Harris’s strength and strategy could potentially navigate the tides toward her favor.
Harris Struggles to Match Trump’s Tenacious Fortitude in Debate appeared first on Real News Now.
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