One practiced with a Trump replica. The other borrowed an old Democrat. The debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump could become one of the most significant in American history.
The last debate had 50 million viewers – that says something about how important tonight’s meeting can be.
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Expected to attack
Harris is expected to launch a fierce attack on Trump for still questioning the 2020 election results, for his handling of the pandemic and for Trump’s nomination of three justices to the Supreme Court that led to the repeal of the national right to abortion.
Trump, in turn, is expected to criticize Harris for how she and Biden have run the country in recent years. Inflation and the migrant crisis at the US southern border are two of the most important issues for voters, and there voters have more confidence in Donald Trump than in Kamala Harris.
– This is Donald Trump’s best chance to reverse the trend that has been in recent weeks,” says political analyst Maresa Straano at the New Republic think tank to SVT.
Practiced with opponents
Harris and Trump have warmed up in different ways. Harris has spent several days in a hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, rehearsing with the help of an associate who played Trump. She is also said to have spoken to both Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, to get their advice.
Donald Trump’s preparations have been more informal. He recently roped in former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, who herself had successful debate moments against Kamala Harris when they were both vying to become the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee.
The debate is broadcast live on SVT
The debate, which is organized by American ABC News and broadcast live on SVT1, on SVT Play and in SVT Nyheter, starts at 03 Swedish time and will last for 90 minutes.
The microphone will be turned off for whoever does not have the floor at the moment, something the two presidential election campaigns argued about before the debate.
How decisive can the debate be for those who have not yet decided? Hear what the voters themselves have to say in the clip above.