Associated Press
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are veering sharply in how they gear up for Tuesday’s presidential debate, setting up a showdown that reflects not just two separate visions for the country but two politicians who approach big moments very differently.
The vice president is cloistered in a historic hotel in downtown Pittsburgh where she can focus on honing crisp two-minute answers, per the debate’s rules. She’s been working with aides since Thursday and chose a venue that allows the Democratic nominee the option of mingling with swing-state voters.
Trump, the Republican nominee, publicly dismisses the value of studying for the debate. The former president is choosing instead to fill his days with campaign-related events on the premise that he’ll know what he needs to do once he steps on the debate stage at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
“You can go in with all the strategy you want but you have to sort of feel it out as the debate’s taking place,” he said during a town hall with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
Trump then quoted former boxing great Mike Tyson, who said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
Harris has said she is prepared for Trump to rattle off insults and misrepresent facts, even as her campaign has seen value in focusing on the middle class and the prospects of a better future for the country.
“We should be prepared for the fact that he is not burdened by telling the truth,” Harris said in a radio interview for the Rickey Smiley Morning Show. “He tends to fight for himself, not for the American people, and I think that’s going to come out during the course of the debate.”
In her own preparation, Harris has the Democratic consultant Philippe Reines, a longtime aide to Hillary Clinton, portraying Trump. She likes to describe Trump as having a “playbook” of falsehoods to go after Democrats such as Clinton and former President Barack Obama.
Trump also meets regularly with policy advisers who are experts on issues that may come up during the debate. During these informal sessions, they talk about the issues, Trump’s policies while he was in office, and the plans he’s put forth for a second term.
“I have meetings on it. We talk about it. But there’s not a lot you can do. You either know your subject or not. You either have good policy or not,” he said in a New Hampshire radio interview.
Before the last debate Trump held sessions with notable Republicans like Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who at the time was under consideration to be Trump’s vice presidential pick. This time he has held sessions with Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic congresswoman and Democratic presidential candidate who is now backing Trump.
Gabbard, who is also now a member of Trump’s transition team, was brought in specifically to help Trump this time around because she knows Harris, having debated her when the two were running for the Democratic nomination in 2020. She also hosted a recent town hall with Trump in Wisconsin.
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Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
16 comments
Yrral
September 7, 2024 at 12:27 pm
If Trump say something believe the opposite , even Anti abortion do not believe him anymore,Mrs Harris should go at Trump like a prosecutor go after a criminal
My Take
September 7, 2024 at 12:33 pm
When you are just going to yell and lie familiar lies, t doesn’t take much special preparation.
Alexa is Biased
September 7, 2024 at 2:50 pm
Five days to prep for someone that is completely unable to think on her feet. So if she wins the Presidency will five day cram sessions be the norm for meetings with foreign dignitaries and such? Definitely a dim bulb.
My Take
September 7, 2024 at 3:54 pm
Needing and wanting advice is far better than raving self-assured halfway to-insane snap blurts.
Alexa is Biased
September 7, 2024 at 3:58 pm
Spin as you wish. There is a reason she has not sat down once with a journalist or done a live press conference. I mean a pre recorded and obviously edited 16.5 minute sit down with Demo activist Dana Bash. Oh and she brought her emotional support VP candi with her. 🤣
My Take
September 7, 2024 at 4:06 pm
Blow it up however you want to spin it.
No requirement. Not very close to a president’s critical duties. Minor point overall.
Her choice. Not yours.
Yrral
September 7, 2024 at 9:11 pm
Trump say down with Rachel Scott,it did not go well,when are the journalist gonna ask him about his pedophilia inclination Google Trump Casablanca Teen Sexual Abuse
Michael K
September 7, 2024 at 4:14 pm
The only preparation that Trump knows comes in a tube called “H.”
You don’t have to work or prepare when all you do is make stuff up and spew lies and insults.
A serious prosecutor spends hundreds of hours preparing for a case.
Alexa is Biased
September 7, 2024 at 6:45 pm
Funny how none of the zombies acknowledge her obvious weakness and the full blown support by the Demo activist media in this plan to get her elected,
Ocean Joe
September 8, 2024 at 9:24 am
What part of “She’s not Donald Trump” do you not understand?
PeterH
September 7, 2024 at 7:11 pm
Trump knows how to lie and as he has stated many times in the past: “if you repeat the lie often enough….. people believe the lie is true!” Intelligent voters will pay attention to the fact checkers after Trump’s Tuesday clown show.
Michael K
September 7, 2024 at 7:42 pm
Not sure how they do it in Russia and Iran, but MIss Spoke might be interested to know that here in the US, even high school debate team members work very hard to thoroughly research and diligently practice, long before appearing to represent their team. Debating is an art and a science, and it helps to have respect for both.
Alexa is Biased
September 7, 2024 at 11:38 pm
She’s just dumb. She flunked her bar exam the first time around. She is where she is for one reason and one reason only. Of course you will not acknowledge the obvious
Ocean Joe
September 8, 2024 at 9:33 am
Maybe so, I know she never tells people she’s smart like Trump does. In fact, I’m pretty old and I’ve never run across anybody in my personal life or public figures I read about who constantly claim to be smart while using infantile language.
Kamala’s failure to constantly brag about things such as passing a test: “man, woman, elephant…” etc. proves you’ve nailed it again, Impeach! You get to sit in the bleachers right behind the podium at Trump’s next rally. Be sure to carry and wave your “Trump’s a Stable Genius” sign. Have fun!
Alexa is Biased
September 8, 2024 at 12:06 pm
Ocean, you won’t see me at a Trump rally and you certainly will not see me at a Kammy rally either. I will certainly watch the show Tuesday night. No matter what happens the media and all of the Pelosi pom pom shakers here will claim she won it. 🤣
Alexa is Biased
September 8, 2024 at 11:57 am
Pay close attention Michael K. First of all like I have said time and time again, I pee standing up. Secondly, I have no idea where you get this Russia and Iran thing from. I guess you read that on Facebook or you subscribe to the same silly news sources as Hillbilly Rick.
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