The much-anticipated debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is set to unfold on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 9:00 PM EDT (2:00 AM BST). This 90-minute political showdown will be broadcast live from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on ABC News. While the event will feature two commercial breaks, there will be no live audience due to the high-stakes nature of the debate.
Debate Format and Moderation:
ABC anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis will serve as moderators. One of the notable features of this debate is that microphones will be muted when either candidate is not speaking, preventing the kind of interruptions seen in previous debates, such as the 2020 clash between Trump and Joe Biden. This format change, however, has been met with criticism from Harris’s campaign, which argues it protects Trump from engaging in direct exchanges with the vice president.
Candidates will have no advance knowledge of debate topics or questions. The stage will be free of props or pre-written notes, and the only items permitted will be a pen, notepad, and a water bottle for each candidate. Neither candidate can leave their lectern during the debate, a rule stemming from Trump’s behavior in a 2016 debate against Hillary Clinton.
Campaign and Debate Stakes:
This marks the first direct debate between Trump and Harris and comes as the 2024 presidential race remains highly competitive. Polls indicate a tight race nationally and across key swing states. While Trump faced off against Biden earlier in the campaign, Harris has largely kept to prepared appearances, and this debate is seen as a critical opportunity for her to make a strong impression on voters. New polling from Siena College and The New York Times suggests that many voters are still undecided about Harris’s leadership qualities.
Debates have a history of swaying campaigns, as seen in Biden’s stumble earlier this year, which led to his exit from the race. For Harris, the stakes are even higher, as she aims to define herself more clearly to the American public.
Candidate Preparations:
Harris has been preparing for the debate with the help of Washington lawyer Karen Dunn, a veteran of debate preparations for Democratic candidates, known for her tough-love approach. Additionally, Philippe Reines, a former Clinton adviser who acted as Trump during Clinton’s 2016 mock debates, is reprising his role to help Harris practice.
Trump’s approach to preparation is reportedly different, involving a focus on connecting with voters and enhancing the theatrical aspects of his debate performance. His advisers for the debate include former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Republican congressman Matt Gaetz.
Future Debates:
Looking ahead, there is one vice-presidential debate confirmed for October 1, 2024, between running mates JD Vance and Tim Walz, hosted by CBS News. While Trump has pushed for at least two more presidential debates, Harris’s campaign has remained non-committal about future showdowns, planning to reassess after this first debate.
Notably, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), which has overseen these events since 1988, has been sidelined in favor of direct negotiations between TV networks and campaigns. The CPD initially intended to organize three debates but has pointed to the Biden campaign’s earlier unwillingness to follow tradition as a reason for this deviation.
This debate between Trump and Harris promises to be a defining moment in the 2024 race, potentially altering its course as Americans prepare to cast their ballots.