Special Poll
Debate Performance Under Scrutiny: Former President Donald Trump and Republicans are expressing frustration after his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, where he struggled to stay on message and fell into traps set by Harris. Critics say he failed to effectively tie Harris to President Biden until the very end of the debate.
Complaints About Moderators: Trump and his allies took aim at the ABC News moderators, accusing them of favoring Harris and fact-checking Trump disproportionately. Trump told Fox News that it was “three to one” against him, calling the debate “rigged.”
Republicans Split on Blame: While some Republicans criticized Trump’s advisers for not preparing him properly, others pointed to Trump himself, saying he went into the debate unprepared. Chris Christie, a key figure in Trump’s past debate preparations, remarked that Trump acted out of instinct and anger, rather than strategy.
Harris Gets Under Trump’s Skin: For over 90 minutes, Harris managed to frustrate Trump by referencing topics like foreign leaders mocking him, his rally crowds, and his criticism of the late Sen. John McCain. A CNN poll showed 63% of viewers believed Harris won the debate, while 37% thought Trump was the winner.
Republican Reactions to Trump’s Debate Prep: Some Republicans acknowledged that Trump didn’t follow through with his planned strategy of tying Harris to Biden and her record. Trump’s team had planned to emphasize her history as a prosecutor, senator, and vice president to label her as out of touch with mainstream America. However, this approach didn’t fully materialize during the debate.
Mixed Reviews of Trump’s Debate: Although Trump called the debate his “best ever,” some Republicans privately expressed disappointment that he missed key opportunities to land stronger attacks on Harris. Erick Erickson, a conservative radio host, criticized both Trump’s preparation and his advisers, saying they filled his head with nonsense before the debate.
Campaign’s Positive Spin: Despite the criticism, senior campaign aides Chris LaCivita and Susie Wilespraised Trump’s performance, calling it “masterful” and highlighting his vision for boosting the economy, securing the border, and reducing crime.
Final Push to Criticize Harris: Toward the end of the debate, Trump finally began connecting Harris to Biden, but some felt it was too late. A former Trump White House official commented that Trump hit the right points but did so at the wrong time, noting that he should have been more aggressive from the start.
Polls Remain Tight: Despite the debate’s challenges, Republicans don’t see the evening as a disaster. With polls showing a neck-and-neck race, including a New York Times/Siena College poll showing Trump ahead by 1 point nationally, there is still optimism within the GOP.