Win on points for the newcomer

The first and maybe unique TV debate between the two presidential nominees of the Republican Party, former president Donald Trump, and of the Democratic Party, incumbent vice president Kamala Harris, ended with a win on points for the vice president. And it was bitter for Trump, even though he boasted that it was his best debate so far. It was clearly the Democrat who was broadly in the US and in the world seen as the debate winner. Trump was the professional and Harris was the newcomer. It might be truly ironic but real in today's America.

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on a debate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the evening of September 10. Photo: AA/VNA

Kamala Harris won the debate because first of all Donald Trump made many deadly mistakes. Many times, again and again, she set traps for him and he walked right straight into them, again and again. She provoked and he didn't be aware of her bait so he couldn't keep controlling himself. He knew he had 3 decisive points against Harris but did not exploit them or do that when it was already too late: The US economy with inflation thematic, the migration issue, and the fact that Harris is an integrated part of the ruling Joe Biden administration. He simply repeated the contents and tactics he used in his debate with Joe Biden by the end of July without timely realizing they didn't work for him in his debate with others. The professional appeared inexperienced in his debate with a newcomer. In this debate, Trump did his job too worst and Harris did her job too well - all far beyond all expectations before the debate.

Harris won this verbal fight with Trump because she had the right strategy and tactics for championing Trump. She pushed Trump into the defensive and exposed his weaknesses, to present himself as America's past and as not eligible for the majority of American voters. She unmarked Trump by letting him unmark himself. It was clear that she had learned what she had had to learn from Joe Biden's failure in his July debate with Trump while Trump had still not yet found the right means and ways to counter Harris's impressive surge since she replaced Biden as the Democrats's presidential candidate. 

This debate brought Harris a little bit closer to the White House while pushing Trump a little bit away from it. But nothing is already decided. The debate win isn't a guarantee for the election win. There are still 55 days until Election Day and that is an eternity in politics. Trump has still many chances and opportunities to make his necessary retrieval in his race against Harris. And Harris is facing very tough times ahead. The door of the White House is still open for both of them.