Drama around the Trump-Harris debate reaches its climax

NEWS AND OPINION:

Will there be lies, drama, anxiety, hysteria and media frenzy when a certain pivotal political event happens on Tuesday?

The presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will give the news media plenty to do. The press has been reporting on the event for weeks — and now the much anticipated encounter has arrived.

“Kamala Harris finally has what is very generously being described as a ’policy page’ on her website. There’s hardly a true thing on it,” a statement from the Trump campaign released Monday said.

Ms. Harris’ campaign countered with a vow from the candidate.

“She promises to be a president for all Americans, a president who unites us around our highest aspirations, and a president who always fights for the American people,” the statement said.

The press, meanwhile, is knee-deep in the story, with recent coverage that suggests there could be drama, fangs and personal style on display when the two face off.

Here are a few headlines from the last 24 hours:

“Trump has one debate strategy: Try to get America to hate Harris” (The New Republic); “The Harris campaign is already downplaying her performance before it even happens” (Fox News); “Here’s the level of media bias Trump’s up against at tomorrow night’s ABC debate” (Twitchy.com); “Trump warms up for debate by threatening to jail election officials” (CNN); “Harris previews her Trump debate plan: ’I think he’s gonna lie’” (CNBC); “7 things to watch at the Kamala Harris-Donald Trump debate” (USA Today); “How Tulsi Gabbard’s big moment with Kamala Harris is playing into Tuesday’s debate” (NBC News); “Harris’ past debates: A prosecutor’s style with narrative flair but risks in a matchup with Trump” (Associated Press); “Advisers worry whether ‘happy Trump’ or ‘angry Trump’ will show up to debate” (The Guardian); and “Harris’s debate challenge: Pushing ahead without leaving Joe Biden behind” (The New York Times).

$15 MILLION

“The Republican Jewish Coalition has launched the largest ad buy in Jewish community history,” the organization said in a statement to Inside the Beltway.

The coalition is motivated these days.

“2024 is the most important election of our lifetimes. Never before have American Jews felt so unsafe. Never before has antisemitism in the United States been so prevalent. Never before has Israel’s survival been so threatened. Never before has there been a candidate for President that embraces and defends the antisemitic, anti-Israel ’Squad,’” coalition CEO Matt Brooks said.

“Understanding the gravity of this moment, starting today the RJC is officially launching an unprecedented $10 million ad buy targeting Jewish voters in the key battleground states of Pennsylvania, Nevada, Michigan, Arizona, and Georgia, as part of our $15 million 2024 campaign. This is, by far, the largest and most comprehensive effort ever to turn out the Jewish vote for President Donald J. Trump,” he said.

“With only 56 days left until Election Day, the RJC is laser-focused on defeating Kamala Harris. Kamala Harris is no ordinary Democrat. She stands with the Squad, not with us,” Mr. Brooks added.

The “Squad” is a progressive bloc of House Democrats. They include Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.

THE PROGRESSIVE FACTOR

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has received a nod of support from Our Revolution, which calls itself “America’s largest grassroots progressive political organizing group, born out of Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign.”

The organization’s mission statement says it “focuses on mobilizing communities, electing progressive champions, advocating for progressive policies, and transforming the Democratic Party to serve people, not corporate interests.”

“We are encouraged by the Harris-Walz platform’s commitment to addressing the economic challenges facing working families, particularly in reining back corporate greed, collusion and price gouging, but we recognize that further steps must be taken — particularly in areas like foreign policy and immigration,” Executive Director Joseph Geevarghese said in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.

“This election will be won on policies that tangibly improve the everyday lives of working people and draw a clear contrast between who is truly on the side of working Americans and who is in the pockets of corporate interests. Our Revolution will continue to advocate for a foreign policy rooted in peace and diplomacy, including ending the massacre in Gaza and halting U.S. aid as long as the war continues. We will also push for comprehensive and compassionate immigration reform that is centered in dignity for all,” Mr. Geevarghese said.

NIGHTSTAND READING

If you are weary of politics and biased news media, there’s always the annual Old Farmer’s Almanac, which has been around since 1792 and continues to be published every year, brimming with homespun advice, gardening news and other matters.

The 2025 almanac — all 288 pages of it — is available. Find the almanac and its sister publications at Almanac.com.

POLL DU JOUR

• 24% of U.S. adults think it “very likely” that there will be a peaceful transition of power after the 2024 presidential election.

• 26% of Democrats, 29% of Republicans and 19% of independents agree. 31% of men and 18% of women also agree.

• 31% overall think a peaceful transition of power will be “somewhat likely.”

• 40% of Democrats, 29% of Republicans and 25% of independents agree. 35% of men and 28% of women also agree.

• 20% overall think a peaceful transition will be “not very likely.”

• 17% of Democrats, 23% of Republicans and 19% of independents agree. 17% of men and 22% of women also agree.

• 10% think a peaceful transition is “not likely at all.”

• 6% of Democrats, 11% of Republicans and 12% of independents agree. 5% of men and 14% of women also agree.

• 15% are “not sure” what will happen.

• 12% of Democrats, 8% of Republicans and 25% of independents agree. 12% of men and 18% of women also agree.

SOURCE: A YouGov survey of 1,083 U.S. adults conducted online Aug. 21-25.

• Follow Jennifer Harper on X @HarperBulletin, on Facebook @HarperUniverse.