Earlier this week, former President Trump and Vice President Harris entered the ring for their first—and only—presidential debate. This election is one of the most unusual and contentious in American history. Fortunately, our Elections Class provided much-needed context and clarity.
This week, we delved into the evolution of presidential debates and public opinion. Professor Geer began by discussing how politicians once gauged public sentiment. Early American leaders often found idiosyncratic ways to gauge public opinion. Abraham Lincoln, for example, tried to meet with citizens visiting the White House, calling these meetings his “opinion baths.” The content of newspapers was another indicator of public opinion for politicians until the 1940s. Today, public opinion polls measure public opinion by asking a representative sample of Americans their views, offering a more precise indicator of voter sentiment.
Presidential debates are a relatively modern phenomenon. Professor Hemmer highlighted the first televised debate between Kennedy and Nixon in 1960 as a turning point in political communication. This debate revolutionized how Americans viewed candidates, placing equal importance on how they looked and sounded as much as what they said. Since 1960, presidential debates—Carter vs. Ford in 1976, Reagan vs. Mondale in 1984, and Gore vs. Bush in 2000—have often served as crucial moments that swayed public opinion. According to Professor Meacham, debates have become essential for candidates to persuade undecided voters and energize their base.
The anticipation for the Harris-Trump debate was palpable on campus. Commons Center was filled with students eager to watch history unfold. This debate was significant for several reasons, not least because it marked the first face-off between a former president and the first Black woman to lead a major party ticket. Harris, the sitting vice president, assumed leadership of the Democratic Party after President Biden’s disastrous debate performance in June led to his candidacy withdrawal.
Both candidates came prepared for a clash over the future direction of the nation, addressing key issues such as the economy, healthcare, and immigration.
On the economy, Harris centered her message on what she called the "opportunity economy." She proposed tax cuts to support young families and small businesses. She criticized Trump’s policies, arguing that they favored large corporations and caused higher sales taxes and increased costs for essential goods. Trump, in turn, emphasized his administration’s economic achievements, noting his tariffs on China and claiming there was no inflation under his leadership. He blamed the economy’s current status on the Biden-Harris administration’s policies and illegal immigration.
Regarding healthcare, Harris defended the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and expressed her intent to expand it, pointing to the law's role in capping costs for essentials like insulin. Trump, in contrast, criticized the ACA as inadequate, referring to it as "lousy healthcare." While reiterating his opposition to the law, he did not provide specific details about an alternative healthcare plan during the debate.
Immigration became a particularly heated topic. Trump claimed that illegal immigration was a major cause of economic and social issues, particularly in small-town America. He blamed the Harris-Biden administration for failing to solve the border crisis, which he said led to increased criminality. Harris, meanwhile, emphasized her experience prosecuting human trafficking and supporting border security measures, accusing Trump of focusing more on problems than solutions.
The candidates clashed sharply on abortion rights. Trump defended his role in overturning Roe and argued that returning the issue to the states was the right move. He denied accusations that he would push for a national abortion ban despite Harris’s warnings. Harris vowed to protect reproductive rights by codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law.
On foreign policy, Harris criticized Trump’s admiration for authoritarian leaders, particularly Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un. She framed herself as a defender of international norms and alliances. Trump, in contrast, pointed to his administration’s success in reducing international conflicts, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, which he claimed would never have started under his leadership.
It was a fierce exchange. Early assessments suggested that Harris had emerged as the clear winner, with a CNN survey reporting a 63% favorability rating for her performance. Harris’s calm demeanor and detailed policy proposals seemed to resonate with undecided voters, while Trump’s confrontational style, though effective with his base, may have failed to expand his appeal.
Ultimately, this debate encapsulated the deeper divisions in the 2024 election. Harris displayed herself as a unifying figure ready to lead America into the future, while Trump doubled down on the message that his presidency had delivered results, framing the current administration as a failure. The stakes in this election are undeniably high, and as we explored in class, the outcomes will have profound implications for the country’s direction.
In the Elections Class, we critically discussed the debate and examined the underlying factors driving voter behavior and public opinion. On Thursday, we welcomed Ariel Edwards Levy from CNN to discuss opinion polling. This week’s classes provided essential insight into the political processes shaping one of the most significant elections in modern history.
Image Source:
BBC Newsround. (2024). Trump vs Harris: Everything you need to know about the US Election. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/cqe6jzvjrnqo
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