In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump announced he won’t face Harris in a second debate. This comes right after a widely praised performance from Harris in an ABC News debate, where she tackled hot topics like the economy, immigration, and abortion, even managing to get under Trump’s skin with comments about his legal issues and the crowd sizes at his rallies.
The Harris campaign wasted no time, immediately calling for another debate following the first.
Aaron Kall, director of the University of Michigan’s debate program, mentioned that by not participating, Trump might be giving Harris the advantage she needs to boost her confidence and present herself as a strong candidate.
“If she proposes another debate and he doesn’t show, it could frame her as the more capable candidate,” he explained. However, he cautioned that replicating her debate strategy might be challenging since the expectations are high after her strong performance.
Moreover, preparing for another debate could take valuable time away from Harris’s campaign efforts in key battleground states, where voters are eager to see her engage more directly.
On the flip side, a repeat matchup might not favor Trump either. If he chooses to debate again, the risks are high that he could face similar embarrassment as before, further solidifying Harris’s portrayal as a capable contender.
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Trump also struggles with the potential of Harris falling short of expectations during a follow-up debate, especially if moderators press her on specific policy details more than they did before.
Interestingly, a recent CNN flash poll revealed that 63% of viewers believed Harris won the debate, a stark contrast to Trump’s previous performances. Early polling indicates that Harris has gained traction, holding a 5-point lead over Trump in multiple surveys post-debate.
If Harris and Trump decide against another face-off, it would mark a significant departure from the norm of multiple presidential debates, a practice dating back decades.
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Historically, candidates have often engaged in at least three debates, but there have been exceptions. For instance, in 2020, Biden and Trump debated only twice, a reduction prompted by the pandemic.
Looking ahead, while a second debate seems unlikely, Harris has ramped up her campaign trajectory, focusing on swing states and planning more media interactions to counter criticism of her perceived distance since being nominated.
As Kall noted, the limited press exposure for Harris has been quite evident this election cycle, especially concerning primary debates where Trump shied away due to his lead.
If there’s any hope for a future debate, Trump would need to reassess his past mistakes and strategize how to exploit Harris’s weaknesses at the podium, while Harris would have to recalibrate her approach to keep pushing Trump’s buttons effectively.
However, given the current climate, the likelihood of a second debate happening remains slim, as both candidates appear to have rational strategic reasoning to avoid it. In the meantime, their vice presidential candidates are set to meet for a debate next month, hosted by CBS News.