Philadelphia Showdown: Harris Eager for Another Debate with Trump
Philadelphia has once again become the center stage for politics as Kamala Harris and her campaign team left the city buzzing with excitement after their latest debate against Donald Trump. **_All eyes_** were on the former president, who not too long ago couldn’t wait to get into the ring for a second debate but seemed a little hesitant on Wednesday morning.
Trump’s Mixed Feelings
After the debate, Trump strutted out on social media saying he had “won” the first debate, even with plenty of folks thinking his performance looked a bit chaotic and filled with untruths. It’s no wonder, with all the back-and-forth leading up to this debate, that he’s showing some mixed feelings about jumping back into the ring. “I’d be less inclined to [debate again] because we had a great night, we won the debate,” he said. He was clearly not impressed with the network, throwing some shade by calling it “terrible.”
Stirring the pot even more, Trump pointed out how those who lose often request a rematch. “When a fighter loses, he says ‘I want a rematch,’” he argued. He also didn’t think the moderators did him any favors, calling the Disney-owned network “the most dishonest news organization” and arguing that they had set him up to fail with their constant fact-checking.
Debate Drama Unfolding
The buildup to the debate was filled with tension. At one point, it seemed they might not even be on stage together after some squabbling over debate rules. Trump had been calling for several debates, teasing one on a popular news network, but Harris put her foot down on that idea. With mic rules as a hot topic, Harris initially fought for her microphone to stay live but eventually backed down. Still, she tried to throw her hat in the ring, trying to interrupt Trump, despite the volume restrictions. At one point, Trump shut this down by referring to a memorable moment from her 2020 debate, saying, “I’m talking now … does that sound familiar?”
Interesting enough, each of them tried to take their moment and say they got the upper hand. Trump claimed, “She wanted a moment like she did with Mike Pence,” referring to a different debate, but said he also got his share of those moments in their latest tussle.
The Call for Round Two
Now, with the debate in the rearview mirror, Harris’ campaign is already eyeing a second round. They recently called for another face-off, with an offer to host from the network featuring two well-known figures moderating. The proposed dates of October 9, October 15, and October 16 are already on the table to fit into the campaign calendar as early voting gets underway in key states. Harris’ camp believes the American people deserve another chance to see these candidates in action.
“It’s been such a short window, and they deserve as many opportunities as possible,” argued one of the moderating hosts, expressing hope that both sides would jump at the chance.
Trump’s Reluctance
However, Trump appeared to have no interest in that specific offer, saying, “I wouldn’t want to have Martha and Bret.” While he hinted that he “probably” wouldn’t agree to any more debates, he put out a feeler for other hosts from that same network he might be open to, ones that align more with his views.
As the dust settles from the initial debate, the anticipation is palpable. Harris’ spokesperson shared that the vice president is definitely open for another bout in October but had a cheeky suggestion for Trump, warning him that “if I were Donald Trump, I would not want to debate Kamala Harris.”
This ongoing drama surrounding their political face-offs is likely to keep everyone glued to their screens as the campaign season heats up further!
