Harris and Trump Prepare for Tuesday's Debate in Contrasting Styles

As Tuesday's presidential debate approaches, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are preparing in markedly different ways, reflecting their distinct approaches to major political moments and their contrasting visions for the country.

Kamala Harris

• Preparation: Harris is sequestered at a historic hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, focusing on refining her responses within the debate's two-minute answer format. She has been working with aides since Thursday and chose a location that facilitates engagement with swing-state voters.
• Strategy: Anticipates Trump’s likely insults and misinformation. Her campaign emphasises presenting a vision for the middle class and a brighter future.
• Support: Democratic consultant Philippe Reines, a former aide to Hillary Clinton, is playing Trump in mock debates. Harris aims to demonstrate stronger leadership compared to Trump, appealing to voters' sense of strength and competence.

Donald Trump

• Preparation: Trump publicly downplays the importance of debate prep, choosing to fill his schedule with campaign events. He believes he will be ready when he steps onto the debate stage at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
• Approach: Trump cites boxing legend Mike Tyson’s quote, "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face," suggesting a more instinctive, on-the-fly strategy.
• Criticism: Trump has preemptively criticised the ABC News debate moderators, claiming bias but pledging to allow Harris to speak freely. His preparation involves frequent interviews, press conferences, and discussions with policy advisers rather than traditional debate practice.

Campaign Dynamics:

• Harris' Campaign: Seeks to leverage the debate to build momentum, organising 2,000 events over the weekend with volunteers to reach over one million voters. The aim is to showcase Trump’s extremism and policy reversals.
• Trump’s Campaign: Plans to depict Harris as too liberal and highlight inconsistencies in her positions. Trump’s team believes his command of the issues will be evident, contrasting with Harris' policies.

The debate is anticipated to be a pivotal moment in a closely contested race, with both candidates aiming to strengthen their positions and sway undecided voters.