Vice President Kamala Harris faced off against Donald Trump in a high-profile debate on September 10, 2024, but it was her calculated evasions and the moderators' assistance that stole the spotlight. Throughout the two-hour event, held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Harris stuck to rehearsed talking points and avoided detailed answers on critical issues, including her inconsistent policy stances on topics like fracking and defunding the police.
Harris’s performance, though lacking depth, was enough for liberal pundits to declare her the winner. ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis helped by lobbing soft questions and rarely pressing her for more substantial responses. When asked about the economy, Harris pivoted to personal anecdotes, recounting her upbringing in a middle-class family and her passion for small businesses. She also glossed over questions about her controversial flip-flops on fracking and illegal immigration, emphasizing that leadership is about "lifting people up" rather than explaining her shifting policy positions.
This clip may be the most egregious example of ABC debate moderators' direct actions/inactions to affect viewers’ perceptions of the information presented at the debate.
There are at least seven instances of this within a two-minute span.
This is not “bias."
It’s much worse.… pic.twitter.com/tYJhZwGwdW
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) September 11, 2024
Trump, while aiming to tie Harris closely to the unpopular Biden administration, delivered some memorable lines. Referring to Harris’s economic plans, Trump quipped, "She copied Biden’s plan, and it’s like four sentences," underscoring his criticism that the Democratic ticket lacks original solutions for the nation’s problems. He also accused Harris of sidestepping action during her tenure as vice president, asking why she hadn't delivered on her promises in the past three and a half years.
One of the most striking moments of the night came when Trump directly addressed the central theme of Harris's candidacy: her claim to represent a new direction for the country. Trump sarcastically remarked, "She just started by saying she's gonna do this, she's gonna do that. Why hasn't she done it?" This question highlighted a key Republican talking point that Harris is part of the establishment she claims to oppose.
So I am not a Megyn Kelly fan but dang she lite up the moderators from the debate. Wow. Bravo Ms. Kelly. pic.twitter.com/GHhcdkqYFj
— Sadie (@Sadie_NC) September 12, 2024
Harris also used the debate to bait Trump on familiar, contentious topics, including the size of his rallies and his infamous comments about the Charlottesville rally. She managed to provoke him into defending his record, thus diverting attention from her own weaknesses. The former president allowed himself to be pulled into discussing the results of the 2020 election, a move that played into Harris’s narrative of herself as a candidate for "change".
The debate’s moderating became a focal point for criticism. While Trump faced interruptions for fact checks and was asked to answer questions directly, Harris largely escaped such scrutiny. Even when she avoided answering key questions, the moderators let her responses slide, fueling complaints of bias from Republicans. Muir and Davis’s failure to press Harris on her dodges and inconsistencies allowed her to skate through the night without offering much clarity on how she would govern.
Despite Harris’s polished performance, her responses did little to satisfy those seeking substance. Her past support for defense budget cuts, for example, remains a hot-button issue, especially as the U.S. continues to navigate complex foreign policy challenges. During the debate, Harris avoided addressing her previous stance on the military, further feeding Republican concerns about her national security priorities.
In the end, the debate was more about optics than policy. Harris delivered a controlled and cautious performance, relying heavily on scripted lines. Trump, on the other hand, aimed to energize his base by attacking Harris’s record, but his frequent deviations from the main topics likely diluted his impact. The moderators, by failing to push Harris for more detailed answers, ensured that the vice president’s evasions went largely unchecked, raising questions about media bias in the 2024 election cycle.
