After her debate against former President Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris saw a significant shift in betting odds—now favoring her. The debate took place in Philadelphia and served as a crucial platform to appeal to moderate and undecided voters in a tight race as the election approaches.
The candidates tackled a range of topics from the economy to abortion, and as the debate wound down, bookmakers began to reflect a change in sentiment towards Harris. BetOnline flipped its odds in her favor, giving Harris a slight edge of -120 compared to Trump’s +110 as of 11 p.m. Tuesday night. This was a notable turnaround from earlier that morning when Trump held the lead at -120.
Just prior to the debate, 50.9% of bets were placed on Harris; by evening, this increased to 54.4%. Another site, Polymarket, initially had Trump with a 52% chance of winning but changed that after the debate to give both candidates a 49% chance. While these shifts indicate a win for Harris in the debate, it’s still uncertain how this will translate to polling outcomes in the coming weeks.
Jen O’Malley Dillon, Harris’s campaign chair, quickly asserted that Harris is ready for a rematch in October, highlighting the choice voters face between moving forward with Harris or reverting to Trump. “Tonight, the American people saw what they’ll be choosing at the ballot box,” Dillon stated.
Trump, on the other hand, suggested Harris’s desire for another debate indicated she felt she had lost. “If you won the debate, why would you want to go again?” he quipped during an appearance on Fox News, adding that he’d consider another debate only if it were on a “fair network.”