Harris, Trump Clash on Economy, Abortion in Tense Debate
By Rediff Money Desk, Philadelphia Sep 11, 2024 07:04
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump sparred over the economy, abortion, and their visions for America in their first and likely only debate before the 2024 election.
![Harris, Trump Clash on Economy, Abortion in Tense Debate](https://im.rediff.com/money/2021/jan/21biden.jpg)
Philadelphia, Sep 11 (AP) Sparring on politics and personality, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump showcased their starkly different visions for the country as they met for the first time Tuesday for perhaps their only debate before November's presidential election, a high-pressure opportunity for the candidates after a tumultuous campaign summer.
The matchup offered Americans their most detailed look at a campaign that's dramatically changed since the last debate in June. Harris immediately pressed the Democratic case better than President Joe Biden did, hitting the former president's proposed tax cuts and tariffs and linking him to the conservative Project 2025 blueprint for a Republican administration and GOP efforts to restrict abortion access. Trump in turn tried to link Harris to Biden, questioning why she hadn't acted on her proposed ideas while serving as vice president.
Harris sharply criticized Trump for the state of the economy and democracy when he left office, as the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the nation and after his supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a bid to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
What we have done is clean up Donald Trump's mess, Harris said. She opened her answer by saying she expects voters to hear a bunch of lies, grievances and name calling from her GOP opponent during their 90-minute debate.
Trump, meanwhile, quickly went after Harris for abandoning some of her past liberal positions and said: She's going to my philosophy now. In fact, I was going to send her a MAGA hat. Harris smiled broadly and laughed.
Harris has sought to defend her shifts away from liberal causes to more moderate stances on fracking, expanding Medicare for all and mandatory gun buyback programs and even backing away from her position that plastic straws should be banned as pragmatism, insisting that her values remain the same.
As the debate opened, Harris walked up to Trump's lectern to introduce herself, marking the first time the two had ever met. Kamala Harris, she said, extending her hand to Trump, who received it in a handshake the first presidential debate handshake since the 2016 campaign.
Harris, in zeroing in on one of Trump's biggest electoral vulnerabilities, laid the end of national abortion rights at Trump's feet for his role in appointing three U.S. Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving more than 20 states in the country with what she called Trump abortion bans.
Harris gave one of her most impassioned answers as she described the ways women have been denied abortion care and other emergency care and said Trump would assign a national abortion ban if he wins.
Trump declared it a lie, and said, I'm not signing a ban and there's no reason to sign a ban.
The Republican has said he wants the issue left to the states.
Harris used a question about her plans to improve the economy by saying she would extend the tax cut for families with children and a tax deduction for small businesses while attacking Trump's plans to impose broad tariffs as a sales tax on goods that the American people will ultimately pay.
Trump was stone-faced during her answer but retorted: I have no sales tax. That's in incorrect statement. She knows that.
Trump continued to call Harris a Marxist, and said Everyone knows she's a Marxist. Harris' eyebrows shot up and she made an amused face, cupping her hand on her chin and stared at him.
Trump, in turn, is trying to paint the vice president as an out-of-touch liberal while trying to win over voters skeptical he should return to the White House.
Trump, 78, has struggled to adapt to Harris, 59, who is the first woman, Black person and person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president. The Republican former president has at times resorted to invoking racial and gender stereotypes, frustrating allies who want Trump to focus instead on policy differences with Harris.
The matchup offered Americans their most detailed look at a campaign that's dramatically changed since the last debate in June. Harris immediately pressed the Democratic case better than President Joe Biden did, hitting the former president's proposed tax cuts and tariffs and linking him to the conservative Project 2025 blueprint for a Republican administration and GOP efforts to restrict abortion access. Trump in turn tried to link Harris to Biden, questioning why she hadn't acted on her proposed ideas while serving as vice president.
Harris sharply criticized Trump for the state of the economy and democracy when he left office, as the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the nation and after his supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a bid to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
What we have done is clean up Donald Trump's mess, Harris said. She opened her answer by saying she expects voters to hear a bunch of lies, grievances and name calling from her GOP opponent during their 90-minute debate.
Trump, meanwhile, quickly went after Harris for abandoning some of her past liberal positions and said: She's going to my philosophy now. In fact, I was going to send her a MAGA hat. Harris smiled broadly and laughed.
Harris has sought to defend her shifts away from liberal causes to more moderate stances on fracking, expanding Medicare for all and mandatory gun buyback programs and even backing away from her position that plastic straws should be banned as pragmatism, insisting that her values remain the same.
As the debate opened, Harris walked up to Trump's lectern to introduce herself, marking the first time the two had ever met. Kamala Harris, she said, extending her hand to Trump, who received it in a handshake the first presidential debate handshake since the 2016 campaign.
Harris, in zeroing in on one of Trump's biggest electoral vulnerabilities, laid the end of national abortion rights at Trump's feet for his role in appointing three U.S. Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving more than 20 states in the country with what she called Trump abortion bans.
Harris gave one of her most impassioned answers as she described the ways women have been denied abortion care and other emergency care and said Trump would assign a national abortion ban if he wins.
Trump declared it a lie, and said, I'm not signing a ban and there's no reason to sign a ban.
The Republican has said he wants the issue left to the states.
Harris used a question about her plans to improve the economy by saying she would extend the tax cut for families with children and a tax deduction for small businesses while attacking Trump's plans to impose broad tariffs as a sales tax on goods that the American people will ultimately pay.
Trump was stone-faced during her answer but retorted: I have no sales tax. That's in incorrect statement. She knows that.
Trump continued to call Harris a Marxist, and said Everyone knows she's a Marxist. Harris' eyebrows shot up and she made an amused face, cupping her hand on her chin and stared at him.
Trump, in turn, is trying to paint the vice president as an out-of-touch liberal while trying to win over voters skeptical he should return to the White House.
Trump, 78, has struggled to adapt to Harris, 59, who is the first woman, Black person and person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president. The Republican former president has at times resorted to invoking racial and gender stereotypes, frustrating allies who want Trump to focus instead on policy differences with Harris.
Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Read More On:
DISCLAIMER - This article is from a syndicated feed. The original source is responsible for accuracy, views & content ownership. Views expressed may not reflect those of rediff.com India Limited.
You May Like To Read
TODAY'S MOST TRADED COMPANIES
- Company Name
- Price
- Volume
- GTL Infrastructure
- 2.61 (+ 4.82)
- 25443450
- Vodafone Idea L
- 13.55 (+ 0.15)
- 11869406
- Suzlon Energy Ltd.
- 81.95 (+ 5.00)
- 11740997
- Rama Steel Tubes
- 15.29 (+ 8.67)
- 8841279
- Arvind Fashions
- 582.45 (+ 0.47)
- 8080958
MORE NEWS
![Uber Black...](https://im.rediff.com/80-80/money/2017/sep/01uber.jpg)
Uber Black Returns to India: Premium Rides Now...
Uber reintroduces its upscale 'Uber Black' category in Mumbai, offering premium rides...
![Gensol-Matrix to...](https://im.rediff.com/80-80/money/2022/jun/14green-hydrogen.jpg)
Gensol-Matrix to Build India's First Green...
Gensol Engineering and Matrix Gas & Renewables have secured an order to build India's...
![Sensex, Nifty...](https://im.rediff.com/80-80/money/2024/jul/23stock-market.gif)
Sensex, Nifty Decline After Two-Day Rally -...
Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade on Wednesday, led by...