It is the most anticipated TV showdown in decades!
At 9 PM EDT White House contenders, Republican Donald Trump, and his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris will go head-to-head in a 90-minute verbal battle at the historic Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
With just eight weeks to go until the presidential election on November 5, this debate represents a pivotal opportunity for both candidates to sway voters and possibly set the stage for the election outcome.
This debate is the latest dramatic chapter in what has been an unprecedented political summer for the U.S. First, there was the troubled debate performance by the aging President Joe Biden (81) in June, followed by the assassination attempt on Trump, and the surprise Democratic switch from Biden to Harris as the nominee. In between, both parties held rousing conventions.
Despite all this, the race remains neck-and-neck, with Trump holding a slight edge in the polls (+1%, according to The New York Times).
With record viewership expected, experts predict that up to 80 million people may tune in via TV or digital platforms. The comparison to the 2016 debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton, which drew a record 84 million viewers, is already being made, with many calling this event the “political Super Bowl.”
Behind the scenes, tensions are high. Every detail of the debate has sparked controversy, including whether microphones should be muted while the other person speaks. Harris wants the mics on to capture Trump’s often loud and aggressive style, while Trump demanded that Harris, who is physically smaller, not be allowed to stand on a mini-pedestal.
Trump has also launched a complaining campaign against ABC, the host broadcaster, calling it the “most disgusting TV network” due to its ties to Harris. Top ABC executive Dana Walden, a friend of Harris, even played matchmaker between the vice president and her husband, Doug Emhoff.
At least one issue has been settled: Trump won the coin toss and will deliver the final closing statement. Republican strategist Karl Rove (73) believes this could be Trump’s golden moment to remind voters of the low prices and greater security they enjoyed during his presidency at home and abroad.
For Harris, the pressure is even greater. Less familiar to the electorate than Trump, she will use this high-stakes moment to present her vision for a Harris presidency to the largest audience of the 2024 election.
A key point of curiosity remains: this is the first time the two rivals will meet face-to-face. Will there be a handshake before the debate begins? Viewers will be watching closely for even a brief human moment before the political sparring kicks off.
