The first and possibly the last US presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamila Harris took place in Philadelphia in an empty TV studio on Tuesday night.
It was high stakes, especially for Harris who by comparison with Trump is inexperienced when it comes to presidential debates and has been media shy since her campaign began.
Also the last debate between Joe Biden and Trump changed the course of the campaign in the most dramatic way possible.
But this week’s debate was as bizarre as it was telling. Harris took swipes at her opponent’s weak spots – the size of his crowds, his international reputation – and it was almost too easy to get a reaction with an angry Trump becoming ever more rambling, defensive and charmless.
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It’s doubtful voters will have learned anything they didn’t know from either side but her coherence and presidental-like poise drove the consensus that Harris won.
As Irish Times correspondent Keith Duggan – who was in Philadelphia for the debate and he tells In the News the high points of the evening and what happens next in a contest where the candidates are polling neck and neck.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.
