The New York Times has a confusion about the debate that took place on Tuesday night. The article was titled, “Pundits Said Harris won the Debate.” The undecided voters were not so sure. Other members of the political elite are also shocked.
On the surface, everyone was impressed by Vice President Kamala’s performance in Tuesday’s debate. Harris, despite her reputation as a lazy lightweight who is entitled to her job and campaigns but not prepared for them, clearly buckled down and was fluent and poised in the debate. It was a far cry from her usual word-stuffing, blank stares, or nervous laughter.
Harris looked great, but she said nothing. They compared and wished that all candidates would follow Bill Clinton’s example, as he could impress anyone with his ability to talk for hours and not have any particular topic. The political elite thinks that people are easily fooled by flowery language and are therefore prone to supporting candidates. Harris’s substantive comments in the debate were either on issues that swing voters didn’t care about (abortion and climate change) or she made her point by lying or omitting important information. They were quite noticeable.
Let’s now jump to Donald Trump.
In my previous debate memo column I wrote:
This debate should be focused on two things: 1) your record as a leader in the Trump administration and Kamala Harris’s left-wing statements and records; and 2) Donald Trump’s and Kamala Harris’s respective records. Referring to someone else or an issue is only useful to make a comparison.
When in doubt, focus on the major wedge issues. These include 1) the economy, inflation, and border; 2) immigration and the border; 3) world chaos, Gaza, and the U.S. riots; and 4) Harris’ bizarre left-wing views.
Trump did exactly this. He was sometimes lured and derailed into unimportant topics – such as his rallies or January 6 – but he always returned to Harris and her left-wing record and to the economy, border, and world chaos. While not exactly what I had in mind, his final statement was very effective. He made the point that Harris has had three-and-a-half years to accomplish everything she says she wants, but still hasn’t done it.
It was important. Despite the propaganda from the political elites, the U.S. is not a happy place. The economy and inflation are huge problems. Illegal aliens are also committing frequent murders and rapes at the border. Everyone can see how Americans are being targeted around the globe, while back home, antisemites riot in our streets and there is nothing done to stop them. The Republican Party is now the party on the outside.
Donald Trump is the Democratic out-party candidate. He is a former president who has an excellent record (except for COVID for which he cannot be blamed). Everyone remembers the U.S. being a stronger nation under Trump. It was just four years ago.
Harris and the biased panelists did all they could in the debate to portray Trump as the devil, just like his opponents have done for years. They continued to portray him as a uniquely corrupt man, and crude, a barbarian who hates minorities and wants to overthrow America’s democratic society for a dictatorship. This strategy only works for the Never Trump supporters. The swing voters are tired of hearing this nonsense and don’t buy it.
Swing voters are those who dislike Donald Trump’s persona, but don’t hate the Biden administration. The swing voters think Trump is rude, loses his temper at the worst times, and tweets too much. But they do not think he’s another Hitler or particularly corrupt (compared with other politicians). Also, they think that Trump’s performance as president has been pretty good.
They are not sure why.
The Harris team must find a way of slandering Trump’s record regarding the economy, border, and world chaos. You’ll have to be very careful in the remaining months.
The New York Times, and other members of the political elite, will be shocked by this campaign because they don’t understand these facts. They won’t be learning it from us.
