'Debate': My Take

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Kamala survived, and Trump underperformed. 

Trump had the opportunity to score a knockout blow, and he failed to do so. Kamala was faced with the danger of imploding, and she didn't. 

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Obviously, the ABC moderators were in the tank for Kamala, but Trump could have taken a number of opportunities to stick a shiv in her, and he was too distracted by Kamala's rhetoric to do so. He defended himself rather than destroy Kamala. 

This was, in my judgment, a blown opportunity but not a disaster for Trump. Trump supporters won't leave with doubts about him, and undecideds learned relatively little about either candidate. What they did walk away with is a sense that Kamala Harris is sentient, and that is a big win for her with some people. But she didn't answer the big question: do you have policies that will make my life better. 

This election will be decided by people who are dissatisfied with the current state of the economy, and Trump has to reach those people. Harris managed to skate and present herself as an agent of change. 

Ben Shapiro hit the nail on the head: Trump could have and should have taken charge of this debate but didn't. Because he didn't Kamala is going to survive to challenge him again. That doesn't mean he is toast--he still is more likely to win than not. 

But Trump should have walked away with it and he didn't. So the race goes on. 

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Kamala Harris' strategy was to lie, and the ABC "moderators" constantly challenged Trump on everything while they let Harris spew falsehoods all night long. 

As usual, it was the media who were Trump's real opponent. Harris is a cipher, put there as an empty suit to do what the Establishment tells her. The media is the voice of that Establishment and carried her across the finish line. 

Real voters, not pundits, will decide who won. 

The irony is, for somebody like me trying to analyze the debate, is that the real debate will take place among people who are going to tell us what they think. Watch the memes, the analyses, the polls in a week, and we will really know whether or what the real effects of the debates will be. 

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Every time these things happen, it takes a while to sort out what real people think. What I, or ever Ed think doesn't matter. We are bloviating. Voters decide these things, not pundits. Pundits will spew positive or negative opinions, but voters decide what they think. 

I would love to hear what you think. If you aren't a member you can't comment, so join the VIP program and spout off to me and your fellow readers. We have a 60% off special with the code FIGHT!

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John Stossel 8:30 AM | October 12, 2024
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