US Presidential Debate: Trump and Harris Face Off on Economy, Abortion, and China

With less than two months left before the U.S. presidential election, the two candidates, Trump and Harris, debated face to face on television for the first time on September 10. The 90-minute debate covered various topics, including the economy, abortion rights, borders, and diplomacy. Notably, both candidates emphasized responding to the threat of the Chinese Communist Party.

The Debate: A First for Harris

This was the first televised debate for Vice President Kamala Harris since she officially became the Democratic candidate for the US presidential election. Harris walked onto the stage, shook hands with Trump, and began the debate.

Economy and Tax Cuts

The host raised the economic issue, and both candidates played the tax cut card. Harris proposed a $50,000 tax cut for new small businesses, while Trump vowed to cut taxes significantly and create a great economy, just like he did before.

Kamala Harris, Democratic presidential candidate: “My plan is to provide a $50,000 tax cut for new small businesses because I know they are part of the backbone of the American economy.”

Republican presidential candidate Trump: “You know I’m a very straightforward person, and you know what I’m going to do, which is to cut taxes significantly and create a great economy, just like I did before.”

Inflation and Livelihood

Trump hinted that the current government was the initiator of the inflation problem, while Harris focused on people’s livelihood. Harris proposed tax cuts for families earning $6,000 a year, highlighting the need for affordable housing and support for young families.

China and Tariffs

Although the China issue was mentioned briefly, the two candidates attacked each other over tariffs and chip restrictions on China. Trump claimed to have made China pay hundreds of billions of dollars to the US and other countries, while Harris emphasized the need for a comprehensive China policy that invests in technology and strengthens relationships with allies.

Abortion Rights and Immigration

Trump insisted that abortion rights should be decided by each state, while Harris demanded full openness. Trump also criticized the current government’s immigration and foreign policies, which he claimed have led to high crime rates and made World War III possible.

Post-Debate Analysis

After the debate, Trump commented on his performance, saying it was the best debate he’s ever had. However, Harris’ allies disagreed, with Democratic Senator Murphy advising Trump not to debate Harris again.

According to Nielsen, the televised debate attracted 67.1 million viewers. A CNN poll showed that 63% of viewers thought Harris defeated Trump in the debate, while a C-Span survey showed that 64% of people thought Trump won.

Post-Debate Rallies and Fundraising

On September 12, Trump held his first campaign rally after the presidential debate in Tucson, Arizona, where he played the economic card and promised to eliminate all overtime pay taxes. Harris held a rally in North Carolina, promising to defend people’s health care rights.

Harris’ campaign team announced that they raised $47 million in the 24 hours after the presidential debate, setting a new fundraising record.

Latest Polls and Battleground States

The latest Rasmussen poll shows that Trump’s support rate is 49%, 2% ahead of Harris. However, the 538 poll shows that Harris’ support rate is 47.1%, 2.8% ahead of Trump. In battleground state polls, Harris is performing better than Trump and is leading in several states.

Alabama was the first state to launch mail-in ballots on September 11, followed by Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and other states.