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The feel-good “vibes” and “joy” that Kamala Harris has relied on are running out of steam. Voters are now seeing more of her, and she’s proving to be as out of her depth as ever. This couldn’t set up the upcoming Tuesday debate better, which could be the only face-off between Harris and Donald Trump in the campaign. Expectations for her performance are low. Her request to ABC to keep both candidates’ mics on throughout the debate was denied, and her recent national TV appearance on CNN only reinforced that she lacks direction, leadership, and vision for the country.
It’s clear that for Kamala to have any chance at becoming the first Black/Jamaican/Indian woman president, she’s going to have to focus on attacking Trump and steer away from talking about herself, her record as vice president, or her failed 2020 presidential run—all of which have been disastrous. The only way forward for her is to make the debate all about Trump. And that leaves her with just three key talking points.
First is January 6th, which she will refer to using the familiar Democratic talking points: “armed insurrection,” “threat to democracy,” and “attempt to overturn the election.” Anything to avoid discussing the inflation crisis, skyrocketing crime, or the botched Afghanistan withdrawal under her watch, not to mention the new conflicts the U.S. finds itself involved in.
Second, the 2020 election, which Trump legally contested, as Democrats have done in the past. Harris will try to bait Trump into defending himself on the topic, setting up the media to rehash their version of events in post-debate coverage.
Third, Trump’s legal troubles—a direct result of Kamala’s allies in the White House and her Democratic colleagues in state governments. Her newly posted “issues” page even lays out her plan to ensure no former president is “immune from prosecution” for any crimes. In other words, she’s banking on keeping the focus on putting Trump behind bars, with “convicted felon” becoming her go-to line, just like her infamous “I’m speaking.”
When policy questions come up during the debate, Kamala will undoubtedly pivot back to these three talking points because her own record offers nothing attractive to voters. If the debate shifts to her performance in office, she knows she doesn’t stand a chance.
