I’ve been consumed by political debates for years. Been involved in many as a candidate. Done a lot of debate prep and mock debates for other candidates—often standing in as the opponent. Started my second book, The Wingman, with a debate scene.
One thing I’ve learned: for all sorts of reasons, it’s hard to actually win a political debate.
Despite the hype and anticipation, they usually end up pretty even. Voters of each side see what they want to see. Each candidate has good moments. Bad moments. Highlights play back showing both in even amounts. And the press, hesitant to declare a winner, usually casts them that way.
Last night was not even. It wasn’t covered as even.
Last night was a rout. And also a clinic.
Domination
For years now, Trump has won debates not by intellect or strategy or by making sense—but by being the dominant figure. The one who took center stage and soaked up most of the attention. The one who successfully framed his opponents — Low Energy Jeb and Li’l Marco, etc. And even ran over the moderators.
The debates were always about Trump. He drove the discussion and set the tone. He’s who you remembered. And that matters. Because if a voter hasn’t made up his or her mind, and one person seems to be the dominant figure among his or her rivals on that stage, that person look like the leader. (And if you get dominated on a stage by someone else, then you don’t seem like the type of person who should be president of a country).
(This did not happen with Clinton, by the way).
Last night, Kamala Harris was the dominant figure. Physically, she crossed that stage and shook Trump’s hand (he actually tried to avoid contact by going behind the podium, yet she still made her way back there, shook his hand and introduced herself). Once the debate started, she pushed her message. She introduced herself and her background. She framed herself as the change and the new. She made it about “you,” American voters. She framed Trump in countless memorable ways (he’s not about you, he’s unable to handle losing an election, he’s subject to flattery, a disgrace, etc.). She baited Trump with all of America watching, and he took that bait. She credibly called out his lies without turning into a scolding fact checker.
She was the central figure, accomplishing a long list of important goals at once.
She dominated. That matters.
Economics
Amid many goals, it was clear her top substantive goal was to explain simple if memorable aspects of her economic plan. I have no doubt that research shows that the child tax credit and small business support and affordable housing aspects of her economic plan are very popular.
And of all the substantive topics from last night that viewers would remember, those specifics stick out, because she returned to them again and again.
A successful debate is always about driving forward on your core message. It takes discipline to get back to that message amid all being thrown your way—questions from the moderators and nonsense from your opponent.
But she did it masterfully.
Mission accomplished.
Trump Revealed Himself: Susceptible to Manipulation
There were many problems with Trump last night. Angry. Unhinged. Hunched forward in an odd way.
Amid a lot of rambling, he made huge gaffes on substance and politics. Telling America that everyone wanted Roe to go away when the strong majority listening actually didn’t was perhaps the low point for him, opening the door to her strongest answer of the night. Admitting he’s still working on “concepts” for health care was another disaster.
But the most revealing moment of the night was when Kamala Harris so obviously baited him about his rallies, and the man revealed himself to America.
Think about that—on live TV, with millions watching, she showed just how easily distracted the man is.
And what we saw in his response is exactly why Putin and other of the world’s autocrats want Trump to be president.
The man has no self-control.
He is easily manipulated.
When that bait was thrown his way, he couldn’t help but grasp for it.
That moment more than any other revealed that we do not want this man in a room with Putin or any other world leader. Just as Kamala Harris knew he’d take the bait, so does any other savvy person he interacts with.
And anyone that easily manipulated is a true danger to America. She showed America that on live TV.
Thank you, Moderators
They asked tough questions. Asked follow-ups when need be. And weren’t afraid to fact check the worst of the propaganda. More of that, please.
Those are a few of my thoughts.
Eager to read yours:
“A Man You Can Bait With a Tweet Is Not a Man You Can Trust With Nuclear Weapons”
I was laughing so hard when he brought up the idea that immigrants were eating the pets! He was unhinged, he couldn’t handle her or his own emotions. I would have liked her to tell him inflation was at 2.5% , border crossings are at a four year low. There’s still time for the statistics to speak for themselves.