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Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday September 12, 2024

….Here’s the animated version of this cartoon.

Kamala Harris Schools Trump in a Debate for the Ages: Why She Emerged as the Clear Winner

Kamala Harris didn’t just step onto the debate stage in Philadelphia to spar with Donald Trump; she came to show America why she’s ready to lead. From the opening handshake, when she corrected Trump on the pronunciation of her name, Harris commanded the night with a blend of poise, strategic wit, and prosecutorial precision. By the end of the debate, the contrast between the two candidates couldn’t have been starker.

Harris used the platform to present herself as a leader who understands the weight of the presidency. In an election marked by frustration and fatigue, she spoke to voters yearning for a return to stability and progress. Trump, on the other hand, recycled familiar grievances, doubling down on the rhetoric of a country supposedly in ruins, a narrative we’ve heard before. But Harris wasn’t going to let him off the hook with hyperbole and distortions.

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Throughout the debate, Harris gave voters much-needed clarity on her policy vision. She laid out her stance on issues like abortion rights, making an impassioned defence of women’s autonomy. She pointed to her record and articulated plans for the future. Trump, meanwhile, squandered the opportunity to press her on why these proposals weren’t realized during her tenure as vice president. By saving those critiques for his closing remarks, he missed the chance to frame the debate in his favour.

Instead, Trump leaned heavily on apocalyptic themes and inaccurate claims, like when he falsely suggested that migrants in Ohio were “eating people’s pets.” Harris didn’t just respond; she deftly turned his wild statements into opportunities to underscore his penchant for misinformation. When Trump parroted conspiracy theories, she labeled them extreme, reminding voters that Trump represents a brand of chaos that’s all too familiar.

One of Harris’s most effective strategies was her ability to reframe the conversation away from Trump’s talking points. Rather than getting bogged down in his falsehoods or allowing him to define her, she kept the focus on his failings as a leader. She pointed to the real-world consequences of Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, his undermining of democratic norms, and his numerous legal troubles.

This was most evident when she spoke about January 6th, saying, “We don’t have to go back.” It was a line that captured her broader message—that America can’t afford to return to the chaos and division Trump represents. While Trump rehashed the past—relitigatting the 2020 election and the indictments against him—Harris offered a vision for moving forward, emphasizing rule of law, democracy, and unity.

Another striking element of the debate was the body language on display. Harris, composed and assured, frequently looked at Trump as she spoke, but he refused to return the gaze. Instead, he stared straight ahead, visibly uncomfortable in her presence. It was a moment that spoke volumes: Trump, the self-proclaimed strongman, appeared rattled, almost unwilling to acknowledge Harris on an equal footing.

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Even when she baited him—mocking the dwindling attendance at his rallies and referencing his meandering speeches—Trump couldn’t resist. It was classic Harris, using subtle jabs to throw Trump off balance. And it worked. Trump, more than once, lost his cool and stumbled into defensiveness, exposing his deep insecurities and making it clear that he remains more aggrieved by personal slights than concerned with leading the country.

Perhaps the most brilliant aspect of Harris’s performance was her ability to use her prosecutor skills to box Trump in. She meticulously laid out the case against his presidency, from his admiration for dictators like Viktor Orban to his role in the January 6th insurrection. It wasn’t just a critique of his policies—it was a reminder that Trump has been on trial, literally and figuratively, for his conduct in office.

Her legal training shone through as she baited Trump into defending himself rather than discussing his plans for the future. The more she highlighted his indictments and authoritarian tendencies, the more he floundered, unable to offer voters any tangible vision for a second term. While Trump could have questioned Harris on the Biden administration’s shortcomings, he instead played defence, spending most of his time justifying his past actions.

The debate laid bare a fundamental contrast: Harris represented hope, stability, and a chance to move beyond the chaos of the Trump years. She reminded voters that, while imperfect, democracy is worth defending. Trump, on the other hand, doubled down on the divisive, grievance-driven politics that have defined his career.

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Harris’s final message was clear: the future doesn’t have to be a rerun of the last four years. She offered voters a chance to turn the page and move forward, while Trump seemed stuck in the past, clinging to old narratives and old battles. Her calm, collected demeanour underscored this point, contrasting sharply with Trump’s agitated, defensive posture.

By the end of the night, the winner was clear. Kamala Harris not only held her ground against Donald Trump but exposed his weaknesses for all to see. She reminded voters of what’s at stake in 2024: a choice between the chaos of the past and the hope of the future. While Trump’s performance may have fired up his base, Harris spoke to a broader electorate, one tired of the toxic behaviour and eager for a leader who can offer solutions instead of relitigatting old grievances.

Harris didn’t just win this debate; she made a compelling case that she’s the steady hand America needs right now. And in doing so, she reminded everyone that the era of Donald Trump doesn’t have to define America’s future. (AI)