Kamala Harris and Donald Trump clashed in a fiery debate on Wednesday (September 11) in what could be the only time the two candidates meet before the November 5 US presidential election.

In the second presidential debate this election cycle — the first since Harris replaced Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket — the two candidates clashed on issues ranging from abortion to immigration.

The event marked a significant opportunity for both candidates, especially Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race in July. However, while there was plenty of spice in the debate, there was little meat, either from Harris or Trump.

While Trump was not expected to say anything of substance, expectations from Harris were sky-high. She delivered in that she staunchly stood by the Democrats’ election platform, but Harris had very little to say in terms of the policies or agenda that would carve out her own legacy.

Of her immediate predecessors, George W. Bush is known as the “wartime president,” while Obama is the “healthcare president,” having championed the Affordable Healthcare Act, or Obama Care. Trump is, well, Trump, while Biden has cemented his legacy as the “foreign policy and infrastructure president.”

The debate was a chance for Harris to show voters, especially undecided voters in swing states, why they should pick her.

However, Harris had little of substance to say about foreign policy, healthcare, or the ongoing geopolitical conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

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Wednesday’s debate began cordially enough, with Harris shaking Trump’s hand in a symbolic gesture as it was the first time the two met in person.

The atmosphere quickly turned heated. Trump launched into attacks on Harris, labelling her a “Marxist” and making unfounded claims about Democrats wanting to allow late-term abortions.

Harris responded strongly, criticising Trump for nominating three Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v Wade in 2022. “One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree that the government and Donald Trump should not be telling a woman what to do with her body,” she asserted, pledging to restore Roe v Wade protections if elected.

Trump boasted about his role in the reversal of Roe v Wade, dodging questions about a potential national abortion ban.

This was perhaps the only time the incumbent vice president spoke about the issues that would define a Kamala Harris presidency — abortion and foreign policy.

The debate also highlighted immigration issues, where Trump veered off-topic, making bizarre claims about Haitian migrants in Ohio allegedly capturing and eating pets, which drew widespread mockery on social media.

Why is it a problem that Kamala Harris does not have a signature plank? This, if you recall, was the exact same reason she suspended her presidential campaign in 2020 — it started on a high note but eventually fizzled out as the Harris campaign failed to find direction.

Issues on the radar

As the debate progressed, discussions turned to foreign policy and the January 6 insurrection. Trump continued to deny the legitimacy of the 2020 election results, prompting Harris to remind viewers that “81 million people fired Donald Trump.”

On the topic of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Harris expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself while advocating for Palestinian dignity. Trump claimed that if he were president, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine would not have occurred, yet he deflected when asked if he wanted Ukraine to win its war against Russia.

The debate concluded with Harris vowing to be “a president for all Americans,” while Trump labelled her “the worst vice president in the history of our country.”

This clash may represent the candidates’ only face-off before the election, leaving undecided voters to ponder their starkly different visions for the nation.

All Kamala Harris managed to do was remind voters how bad Trump was. She has yet to say how good she will be.

She has 55 days to do so.

Also read: US Presidential Debate: Fact-checking claims on the Russia-Ukraine war