Harris and Trump Prepare for Tuesday’s Debate in Distinct Ways

PITTSBURGH (AP) — As the presidential debate approaches, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are adopting contrasting strategies that not only highlight their differing visions for America but also their unique approaches to high-stakes moments.

Harris, the Democratic nominee, has retreated to a historic hotel in downtown Pittsburgh to prepare for Tuesday’s debate. She aims to perfect concise two-minute responses in line with the debate rules. Since Thursday, she has been engaged in focused preparations while also having the opportunity to interact with voters important in swing states.

In stark contrast, Trump, the Republican nominee, downplays the importance of debate preparations. He has opted to fill his schedule with campaign events, believing that his instincts will guide him once he steps onto the debate stage at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

During a town hall with Sean Hannity, Trump expressed his philosophy: “You can go in with all the strategy you want but you have to sort of feel it out as the debate’s taking place.” He referenced former boxing champion Mike Tyson, saying, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”

Harris anticipates that Trump will unleash insults and distort facts during the debate, but she is focusing her campaign on themes that resonate with the middle class and envisioning a brighter future for the country.

“We should be prepared for the fact that he is not burdened by telling the truth,” Harris noted in a recent radio interview on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show. She added, “He tends to fight for himself, not for the American people, and I think that’s going to come out during the course of the debate.”

In preparation, Harris is working with Philippe Reines, a Democratic consultant who has previously assisted Hillary Clinton, to role-play as Trump. She has characterized Trump as following a “playbook” filled with inaccuracies targeting Democrats, including Clinton and former President Barack Obama.

Harris aims to project herself as a more capable leader than Trump, a narrative she has emphasized in speeches, including during her address at the Democratic National Convention, aiming to appeal to voters who value strength in leadership.

The upcoming debate is crucial, especially after Trump’s previous debate on June 27 against President Joe Biden, which had a significant impact on the election outcome, leading to Biden’s withdrawal as the Democratic nominee and his endorsement of Harris.

Trump has already begun criticizing the moderators from ABC News, claiming he expects an unfair treatment. Still, he stated he would allow Harris to express her views, just as he did with Biden during their previous debate.

“I let him talk. I’m gonna let her talk,” Trump said during the town hall.

His campaign contends that their approach remains unchanged from past debates, and Trump will engage without formal preparation. There will be no practice stand-ins or mock sessions this time, with aides pointing to Trump’s extensive media appearances as sufficient preparation.

Trump regularly participates in interviews and has conducted long press conferences, hourlong podcasts, and town halls with congenial hosts like Hannity to maintain his public engagement.

He also meets with policy advisers to discuss potential debate topics and issues that could arise. Trump believes that these informal meetings are valuable, stating, “I have meetings on it. We talk about it. But there’s not a lot you can do. You either know your subject or not.”

Ahead of the last debate, Trump collaborated with prominent Republicans, including Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who was considered for the vice presidential position. This time, his sessions include Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic congresswoman now supporting Trump, who is well-acquainted with Harris from their past debate during the 2020 Democratic primary.

According to Trump aides, the aim is to put Harris on the defensive, attempting to frame her as excessively liberal and linking her to Biden’s economic record while highlighting her position changes, such as her previous stance on a fracking ban, which she no longer supports.

“We look forward to the opportunity for Americans to see her on stage, incapable of defending her policies and flip-flops,” stated Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. “The president’s proven he has a command of the issues; she does not.”

Meanwhile, Harris’ team hopes to counter Trump’s portrayal by emphasizing how extreme he appears. They intend to leverage the debate as a launchpad for further momentum in her campaign, which has been gathering pace. The campaign plans to host around 2,000 events over the pre-debate weekend, aiming to connect with over a million voters.

“With hundreds of offices and thousands of staff across the battlegrounds, we are able to harness all the buzz around the debate and break through to hard-to-reach voters,” remarked Dan Kanninen, the campaign’s battleground states director.