The differences between the two candidates’ beliefs on important topics.

With the shake of their hands, primary presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump started off the 2024 Presidential Debate Sep. 10, 2024. As a teenager unable to vote for decisions that will deeply affect me in the future, the debate was incredibly difficult to watch, no matter which side I aligned with.

The first thing I noticed was the difference in composure between the two candidates. Trump was much more composed here than in the debates he has previously been in.  Even though he attempted to speak with his muted microphone multiple times, he kept his reactions to Harris relatively calm throughout the hour and a half the debate aired. Harris, on the other hand, did not have as much of a poker face as the former president. Her reactions were quick, yet very obvious, affecting her performance, but not her confidence.

Furthermore, the candidates could not directly answer most of the questions throughout the night. Trump would start talking about immigration when he was asked about his beliefs and plans on climate change. At any chance he got, he would go on to talk about the differences in crowd sizes at campaign rallies the two had, fueling his obsession with popularity in the context of friendships and followers. Harris was not much better with staying on specific topics, seeming to stick with the script and discuss the same topics repeatedly, reinforcing the same point each time.

Harris was much better with speaking coherently, mostly without stuttering, while engaging with the audience through the camera. While making eye contact with the camera, Harris reinstated her platform for the debate; Trump does not care about you, the workers, or those who will not give him their money. Appealing to the audience’s emotions through her closing statement, Harris did just what was expected of her, nothing more, nothing less.

My own takeaways

Donald Trump lost the debate. Not only did he take every piece of bait Harris threw at him,  he also refused to give coherent answers to almost any question. Literally becoming a meme, he rambled on about immigrants eating cats and dogs in Ohio and then disagreed with the debate moderators when he was fact checked.

Harris “won” the debate, although I would argue her performance was not the best. She seemed to stick to the script she was given while attempting to come off as genuine. The aim for the undecided voters could work, as she is standing on the platform of Trump not caring about them, but I do believe most undecided voters will end up just not voting.

Neither option is great. Both candidates are making promises that are virtually impossible to keep and are just straight lies. As a woman, Harris would be my top choice. Her positions on female, and simply human rights, draw me into her campaign along with Tim Walz’s constant efforts to better female rights.

I also feel as though it is important to ensure a criminal does not make it into office. If the choice is between a prosecutor and a convicted felon on 34 accounts, I will always pick the prosecutor who tries to make my country safer and all around better.