Trump v. Harris

Laramee Minor     
Social Media Manager 
  With the next presidential election being less than three months away, American citizens were eagerly awaiting the first debate between former President Donald J. Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris which took place on September 10, 2024. 
  The United States Presidential Debates are a series of debates that are held before the presidential election. Both candidates have committed supporters and contrasting policies, so it was a shock to no one when tension grew between the Republican and Democratic sides. 
According to several flash polls, the majority of registered voters who watched the debate saw Kamala Harris as the winner. The data showed that most viewers believed that Harris outperformed Trump. Many also declared that she outdid Joe Biden’s performance when he went on stage to debate Trump. According to post poll data, most debate watchers proclaimed Harris won in a 63% to 37% poll, and the same voters were fairly evenly split before the debate started. After the event, around 96% of Harris supporters agreed that their contender did a much better job, whereas a smaller percentage of 69% of Trump supporters who watched the debate said that he did a better job. 
 There are many reasons why voters are strongly opinionated on who the better candidate is but a main reason is policy and these two candidates have extremely different policies. Policies regarding immigration, gun control, and healthcare are three themes that have been the topic of discussion for years so it is no surprise that Trump and Harris are clashing over these as well. For example, when it comes to immigration, Harris and Trump have differing approaches to border security. Both of them have increased border security during their time in office. Harris wants to introduce a bill that would increase the number of border security agents, while Trump wants to focus on deportation and completing the wall at the border. Another example of the two candidates conflicting is the conversation on gun control. Harris would like to implement pre-purchase background checks for anyone under the age of twenty-one, as well as introduce the Bipartisan Safer Communicates Act. The Act would help create solutions to reduce domestic and community violence as well as help introduce solutions to address mass and school shootings. Additionally, the Act would add funding to improve mental health problems that affect young people.  On the other hand, Trump wants to expand concealed carrying rights, which would allow permit holders to drive across state lines without restrictions or permits.  Lastly, healthcare is another point of discussion for the two candidates. Harris has been clear about her support for expanding and protecting Medicare, so that more patients have access and rights to healthcare that is affordable. On the other side of this debate, Trump tried and was successful several times in cutting funding for Medicare. Either way, both parties are confident that their policies are the best next steps for the country.
  After the results of the first presidential debate, Trump stated that he will not be joining Harris on another debate stage again, even though Harris has said she’s ready for the next one anytime.  No matter who the citizens of the United States see as the right candidate for the country, it appears that the majority sided with Harris after the first debate.

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