Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump faced off in their first, and potentially only, presidential debate before the 2024 election. The debate, hosted by ABC News, was roughly 90 minutes covering topics such as the economy, abortion and immigration. Following the debate, both candidates declared victory over the other on their performances. Just before the debate, CNN conducted a poll of debate watchers, 50% of whom believed Trump would win the debate, and 50% believed Harris would win. After the debate, CNN asked the same viewers who won. 63% said Harris won, compared to 37% for Trump.
The debate started civilly, with the candidates shaking hands and greeting one another. NBC News tracked how long each issue was discussed and who spoke longer on it. Trump spoke longer on issues like immigration, the economy, crime and COVID-19. Harris spent more time speaking on climate change, the Israel/Hamas war, housing and guns. Trump spoke for 43 minutes and three seconds compared to Harris’ 37 minutes and 41 seconds, according to the New York Times. The Times also reported 67.1 million Americans tuned in to the debate, compared to 51 million who watched this year’s debate between Trump and President Biden.
The Monmouth University Political Science Club held a watch party in the Great Hall auditorium. Club President Mike Makfinsky estimates approximately 100 students showed up to watch. Makfinsky says his club plans on doing more before the 2024 election, “we are planning some voter registration drives including a ‘Rock the Vote’ event where there will be live music. We will also be doing another watch party for the vice-presidential debate.” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, and U.S. Senator JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, are set to debate Tuesday, October 1st on CBS News. When asked why it’s important for students to vote in the upcoming election, Makfinsky said, “it is important for students to vote because the age demographic that most students fall into is the lowest voting population.”
According to Pew Research, voters 18-29 made up just 19% of registered voters in the United States in 2020. Makfinsky continued, “we need more civic engagement from young people to make sure that our voices are heard. As more young people vote, the more our thoughts and ideas will be taken seriously.”
According to PolitiFact, Kamala Harris made at least claims that were missing context, mostly false, or plain false and Donald Trump made at least 27 of these claims. Also according to PolitiFact, Harris said “Donald Trump left us the worst unemployment rate since the Great Depression,” which is true, but had dropped to 6.4% when she and President Biden were sworn in. Trump claimed, “in Springfield, they’re eating the dogs…they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the pets of the people who live there.” Trump is referring to reports that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating animals, a claim spread by Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance. This claim has been debunked by Governor Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), Springfield’s Mayor and additional city officials who stated, “there is no evidence” to corroborate the claims.
The Monmouth University College Republicans and College Democrats both released statements after the debate. The College Republicans said, “the moderators were completely in favor of Kamala Harris, cutting off Donald Trump when he was speaking, ‘fact checked’ him multiple times.” The moderators interjected and fact-checked former President Trump five times during the debate. The College Republicans also said, “Kamala lied about Donald Trump agreeing to a national ban on abortion. Trump said himself he would never sign into [law] a national ban on abortion.” Trump has said, “I’m not signing a ban…there is no reason to sign the ban because we’ve gotten what everyone wanted.” The College Republicans also called out Harris over her statement that, “Donald Trump has no plan for you,” arguing her policies and plans have only been uploaded on her website for a few days before the debate, while Trump’s have been up for much longer. They closed with, “For 3 ½ years, Vice [President] Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden has[sic] done nothing but fail the American people. [The] Monmouth University College Republicans URGE you to remember that this November.” You can read their full statement on Instagram at @mu_hawksgop.
The College Democrats released a statement as well. They said, “Donald Trump lied about winning the 2020 election, falsely claimed immigrants in Ohio are eating cats and dogs and praised authoritarians and dictators. Kamala Harris presented plans to lower housing costs, lift up the middle class and strengthen our alliances around the world.” They included in their statement the recent endorsement of Harris by former Vice President Dick Cheney, a Republican, “This week, former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney endorsed Kamala Harris. As did 10 former U.S. military generals and admirals. Last week, 200 Republicans who worked on the Bush, McCain and Romney campaigns endorsed her.” They closed with, “Donald Trump is a divider, Kamala Harris is a uniter. Donald Trump wants to take us back, Kamala Harris wants to move us forward. Let’s turn the page on Donald Trump this November and chart a new path forward by electing Kamala Harris.” You can read their full statement on Instagram at @monmouthdemocrats.
Following the debate, Kamala Harris said she’s “ready” for another debate. Trump, however, said, “there will be no third debate,” and, “the reason you do a second debate is if you lose, and they lost.” The day after the debate, both candidates were at Ground Zero in New York City to honor the roughly 3,000 Americans lost during the attacks of September 11, 2001. There, they once again shook hands in a show of unity while honoring one of America’s darkest hours. President Biden, Harris and Trump then visited Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Flight 93 crashed on September 11th. In another show of unity at a local fire station, President Biden wore a Trump 2024 hat and signed a hat with the presidential seal for the man who gave him the Trump hat.
Early voting in some states begins as early as Sept. 26, with the 2024 general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. You can find out how to register to vote by visiting vote.gov.
