As the highly anticipated presidential debate looms, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are diving headfirst into their final preparations—but in drastically different ways. This upcoming face-off isn't just a moment to showcase two conflicting visions for the country. It's also a striking reflection of how these two political figures approach big moments on the national stage, each with their own unique style and strategy.
Kamala Harris, the sitting vice president and Democratic nominee, has tucked herself away in the historic William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. She's using this quiet, controlled environment to sharpen her responses, particularly focusing on crafting crisp two-minute answers, a nod to the debate’s strict format. Harris and her team of aides have been hard at work since Thursday, fine-tuning every possible scenario. And while she’s preparing rigorously, she’s also keeping an eye on swing-state voters, using this as an opportunity to engage with locals in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
On the other hand, Trump’s preparation couldn’t be more different—and that's by design.
The former president and Republican nominee is taking a much more hands-off approach to the debate. Rather than locking himself in a room for hours of mock debates and intensive study, Trump has chosen to continue with his jam-packed schedule of campaign events. He seems to believe that his years in the political arena and countless media appearances have prepared him enough to handle whatever might come his way on the debate stage. His belief? It’s all about gut instinct. In a recent town hall with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Trump made it clear: “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.”
In true Trump fashion, he backed up his point with a quote from none other than boxing legend Mike Tyson, who once said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” It’s a fitting analogy for Trump, who has long thrived on unpredictability and aggression in both his business ventures and his political career.
Meanwhile, Harris isn’t under any illusions about what to expect from Trump. She knows full well that he’ll come out swinging, with his usual blend of insults, personal attacks, and less-than-accurate claims. In an interview on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Harris laid it out plainly: “We should be prepared for the fact that he is not burdened by telling the truth.” She added that Trump has a habit of fighting for himself rather than for the American people—a point she’s eager to drive home during the debate.
Harris' approach is grounded in facts and policy, with a clear focus on middle-class voters and a message of hope for the country’s future. Her strategy is to stay above the fray, positioning herself as the candidate who offers a more grounded, optimistic vision for the nation. Her preparation has even included working with Philippe Reines, a veteran Democratic consultant and former aide to Hillary Clinton, who is playing the role of Trump in her mock debate sessions.
This meticulous preparation comes from Harris’s deeper understanding of Trump, both as a political opponent and on a psychological level. She’s not just preparing to spar with Trump; she’s preparing to counter his “playbook” of misrepresentations and falsehoods—tactics he’s used against Democratic heavyweights like Clinton and former President Barack Obama.
But this debate isn't just about two people clashing on stage. It's about legacies, future aspirations, and the direction of the country. The stakes are sky-high, and Harris is acutely aware of that. Her goal is to prove she can be a stronger, steadier leader than Trump, which is something she underscored during her speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Flashback to June 27: Trump’s debate against President Joe Biden marked a turning point in this election cycle. Biden’s faltering performance paved the way for Harris’s rise as the Democratic nominee, after the former president ultimately endorsed her. With that history in mind, both campaigns know that this first in-person meeting between Harris and Trump could very well be a make-or-break moment in this increasingly tight race.
Trump, ever the showman, is already setting the stage for possible complaints about how the debate will be moderated. He’s taken preemptive swipes at ABC News, accusing them of bias and claiming he won’t be treated fairly. Despite these grievances, Trump insists that he plans to let Harris speak, much as he did with Biden in their previous encounter. “I let him talk. I’m gonna let her talk,” Trump said during the Hannity town hall.
What’s notable is how little Trump has changed his approach from the last debate to this one. His aides maintain that, just like before, he’s not engaging in traditional prep methods. There are no rehearsals, no stand-ins, no elaborate role-playing. Instead, Trump relies on his frequent media engagements—everything from long-form interviews to impromptu press conferences and town halls with friendly hosts like Hannity—to keep him sharp. His confidence comes from his own belief that you either know your stuff or you don’t. “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. You either have good policy or not,” he said on a New Hampshire radio show.
Trump has also brought in a key ally for his informal sessions: Tulsi Gabbard. The former Democratic congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate has been working closely with Trump’s team to help him prep. Her insight is particularly valuable because she has firsthand experience debating Harris from the 2020 Democratic primaries. Gabbard, who has since endorsed Trump, also hosted a recent town hall with him in Wisconsin and is now part of his transition team. Her role in Trump’s debate prep adds an intriguing twist, as she knows exactly how Harris operates in these high-stakes situations.
So, what's Trump’s game plan? He’s laser-focused on putting Harris on the defensive. His strategy is to paint her as too liberal for mainstream America, while also tying her to Biden’s economic policies and her flip-flops on key issues, such as fracking. Trump’s team believes Harris won’t be able to adequately defend her policy positions, and they plan to exploit that on the debate stage. “We look forward for the opportunity for Americans to see her on stage, incapable of defending her policies and flip-flops,” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. “The president’s proven he has a command of the issues, she does not.”
While Trump aims to expose Harris’s vulnerabilities, her team is banking on the idea that Trump’s extreme rhetoric will backfire. They’re hoping the debate will highlight Harris’s steady leadership and push their campaign's momentum even further. The Harris campaign is planning a massive pre-debate push, with 2,000 events involving volunteers and efforts to connect with over a million voters.
Dan Kanninen, Harris's battleground states director, summed it up: “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.”
Ultimately, both candidates are gearing up for a pivotal moment in their race for the White House, but they’re doing it in their own unique ways. Harris is banking on careful preparation and clear policy articulation, while Trump is leaning on instinct, experience, and a high-risk, high-reward strategy. How this showdown plays out could very well determine the course of the election.
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