Trump, Harris Spar on Economy and More in Feisty Debate

At one point during the first and, possibly, only debate between the two presidential hopefuls, Vice President Kamala Harris said to former President Donald Trump, “You’re not running against Joe Biden. You’re running against me.”

That statement was clear to anyone watching.

The energy of Tuesday night’s debate, which was hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia, starkly contrasted the June debate in which Trump faced off against President Joe Biden. The one that led to Biden stepping down and Harris stepping up to be the democratic candidate.

Harris and Trump clashed over a number of policy proposals including the economy, abortion, climate change, energy, immigration and foreign policy.

Unlike during the CNN-hosted debate in June, ABC News hosts David Muir and Linsey Davis fact checked statements live — including refuting Trump’s false claim that in some states, parents can elect to kill their baby after birth; a false conspiracy theory that immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating people’s pets; and another false claim that Democrats favor abortion in the ninth month of pregnancy. Muir and Davis weren’t actively fact checking Kamala Harris much, but they did question why she has changed her positions on fracking and health care — Harris denied that her views have substantially changed.

Speaking of policy positions, the candidates’ plans for the economy were first up, but didn’t get much consistent airtime thereafter. Trump attacked the Biden-Harris administration on inflation before repeatedly bringing the focus to his views on immigration. Meanwhile, Harris doubled down on much of what she’s said on the campaign trail about being raised “a middle class kid”; her Opportunity Economy; and the multiple economic assessments that project Trump’s plans would ignite inflation.

Here are some other takeaways from the debate:

• Harris said Trump would impose a sales tax (that she’s calling a “Trump sales tax”) on everyday goods. Trump said it was an incorrect statement. What Harris is likely referring to is Trump’s proposal to impose across-the-board tariffs, which would likely increase the cost of imported goods to America. Trump defended his proposals. 

• Harris didn’t respond when Trump pressed her on why the Biden Administration did not remove the tariffs he put in place during his presidency. 

• Trump has long tried to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, but said he doesn’t have a health care plan to replace it. However, he does have “concepts of a plan.”  

• Harris slammed Trump on his views on abortion and that Roe v. Wade was overturned while he was president. Trump said abortion was best left up to the states. Harris said, as president, she would sign a bill that Congress passes to restore abortion rights.  

It was the debate the Harris campaign needed after recent polling: The New York Times/Siena College that was released on Sunday showed Trump leads Harris 48% to 47% nationally (Sept. 3-6). In most swing states (Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina), the candidates are tied at 48% each. In Pennsylvania, Harris leads Trump 49% to 48%.