What to watch for in tonight’s Presidential debate

The 75 days that have passed since the last presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump saw unprecedented campaign upheaval. A lot has happened in this time. Foundational aspects of the race were flipped upside down, as one of the candidates was replaced and the other was nearly assassinated.

With 55 days to election day, tonight’s debate hosted by ABC in Philadelphia will see Kamala Harris face her opponent for the first time. Pre-debate polls show that the race to the White House remains tight and both candidates have a lot riding on their performance tonight

This year’s presidential race is a contest of contrasting ideas between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on taxes, abortion, immigration, global alliances, climate change and democracy itself.

While Harris has embraced many of Joe Biden’s ideas, she has pledged to chart a new way forward. She wants middle class tax cuts, tax hikes on the wealthy and corporations, a restoration of abortion rights and a government that aggressively addresses climate change, among other stances.

Trump, on the other hand, wants to accomplish much of what he couldn’t do during a term that was sidetracked by the global pandemic. Trump wants the see through the extension and expansion of his 2017 tax cuts, a massive increase in tariffs, more support for fossil fuels and a greater concentration of government power in the White House.

Here are the top three things to watch for in tonight’s debate:

Will Harris deliver her policy:

Despite being Vice President under Joe Biden, 28% of likely voters say they know little about her and what she stands for. The debate will provide a platform for Harris to reach out to her voters and her performance will be decided on how well she delivers her message. The two main issues she will likely cover tonight will be abortion and the cost of living. While her message on abortion will undoubtedly be strong and appeal to voters, how she handles the stickier subject of economy will be telling.

How Trump answers questions on abortion:

Trump has at times boasted of appointing three of the six Supreme Court Justices who voted in 2022 to gut Roe v. Wade, ending federal protections for abortion. “I’m proud to have done it,” he once proclaimed. Since then he has offered a variety of positions and takes, and has failed to deliver a clear answer.

How Harris handles questions on the war in Gaza:

Harris has not been fully clear on her stance on the war in Gaza. Both in her convention speech and on the newly minted “issues” page on her campaign website, Harris has made the case for Israel’s defense, along with the creation of a neighboring Palestinian state, and security for both. Critics say she needs to be clearer in her position to resonate with voters.