Let’s talk about the debate last night—an event that was set up perfectly for Trump to land some serious blows, but it just didn’t happen. Yes, he had Kamala Harris right where he wanted her, and yet, instead of delivering the knockout punch, he spent too much time getting rattled by old traps like rally crowd sizes and, of course, the 2020 election. That frustration is real. Harris didn’t have to be a knockout to come out looking decent, and that’s exactly what happened. She wasn’t great, but she didn’t completely crash and burn like Biden did back in June. And Trump, well, he let her get under his skin.
For those of us watching closely, there were moments where Trump could’ve dismantled Harris’ weak stance on the economy or immigration, but instead, the conversation kept veering off into less useful territory. That gave Harris the opportunity to get comfortable—way too comfortable for someone who should’ve been sweating over her policy record. The more Trump strayed from policy, the more Harris managed to settle in, and suddenly we’re left asking how the race might shift now, with Kamala of all people getting a confidence boost.
And let’s not forget about the moderating—if you can even call it that. David Muir and Linsey Davis came with their own agenda, and it was obvious. They laid every trap they could think of for Trump, even throwing in that ridiculous question about Harris’ racial identity. So, Trump wasn’t just debating Harris—he was up against the moderators, too. It wasn’t a fair fight, and that’s clear. Still, despite those challenges, the fact that Trump didn’t close the door on Harris when it came to policy is frustrating.
Polls are showing Harris running away with the win, according to CNN’s snap poll. But let’s dig a little deeper, shall we? On the economy—the issue that matters most—Harris lost ground. She was already struggling with a 37% approval rating on that front, and after the debate, she dropped to 35%. That’s where the real story is, not in whatever narrative the media wants to spin about her “winning” the debate.
🚨 Holy smokes Trump gained 2 points on the economy among CNN viewers after they watched the debate.
LMFAO this is such a good sign. pic.twitter.com/XQXyIXr10N
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) September 11, 2024
Even ABC News had to admit post-debate that Harris dodged key questions, especially when it came to actual policy. You had undecided voters in CNN’s own focus groups admitting that, while Trump wasn’t perfect, life was just better under him.
CNN Undecided Voter: “My life was better when Trump was in office. The economy was better. Inflation was lower. Things were better overall. And now, with Kamala’s administration, things haven’t been so fantastic. She’s saying she can fix the problems that her administration has… pic.twitter.com/J1XWCSJYHB
— KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) September 11, 2024
So here we are. The media will run wild with headlines about how Kamala Harris shifted the race, but let’s be clear: this wasn’t some grand victory for her. Trump didn’t lose—but he sure didn’t win either. And now, Harris’ campaign is already pushing for a second debate. Of course, she conveniently bailed to a fundraiser afterward, leaving Trump to answer the inevitable questions about a rematch.
Trump takes questions from the media after the debate.
Kamala booked it to a fundraiser. pic.twitter.com/HETqYUxBBp
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 11, 2024
Expect a lot of noise from the media in the coming days, but at the end of the day, Harris didn’t land a knockout. The fight’s far from over, and the next few polls will tell us a lot more than this overhyped debate ever could.
