Vice President Kamala Harris said in an interview that aired Monday that she expects former President Donald Trump to lie during the ABC News presidential debate on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign and surrogates continued to insinuate on Monday that the former president’s strategy at the debate will be to tie Harris to what they say are her policy failures and “disasters” as a leader of the Biden-Harris administration.
With time ticking down until the two meet for the debate, both candidates are working to spin expectations in what is expected to be a key moment for both campaigns as they look to appeal to voters ahead of what’s expected to be a close contest in November.
In a radio interview with morning show host Rickey Smiley, Harris said “we should be prepared for the fact that he is not burdened by telling the truth.”
“And we should be prepared for the fact that he is probably going to speak a lot of untruth,” she said in the interview recorded Wednesday while Harris was at a rally in New Hampshire.
‘Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – ABC News Presidential Debate’ moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis.
Al Drago/ABC NEWS
“I think he’s going to lie,” she said.
During a press call held by the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee on Monday afternoon, Trump Campaign National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Harris “will finally be forced to defend her record” on issues such as crime and the border.
Trump Campaign Senior Adviser Jason Miller claimed Harris is the one running the White House — not President Joe Biden — and so other major happenings such as the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment or the Maui, Hawaii, wildfires are on her: “every single one of these disasters are on Kamala Harris.”
Later, responding to a question about the tone Trump will take with Harris, Miller said Trump is “going to be himself.”
The ABC News debate, moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis, will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 9 p.m ET. A prime-time pre-debate special will air at 8 p.m. ET. It will air on ABC and stream on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu. Viewers can also stream the debate on the ABC app on a smartphone or tablet, on ABC.com and connected devices.
In this combination photo, Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, speaks during a debate, Oct. 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City, left, Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks during a debate, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.
AP
While Harris’ strategy has been focused on establishing her presence and redefining herself for voters, she now plans to prioritize attacking Trump’s record and getting under his skin during the debate.
Harris told Smiley that she “intend[s] to point out” that Trump “tends to fight for himself, not for the American people.”
Donald Trump participates in a Fox News Town Hall with Sean Hannity at the New Holland Arena on September 04, 2024 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
The Harris campaign has also noted that this is new territory for Harris as it marks her very first presidential debate, compared to what will be Trump’s seventh. This is the first time the pair have ever faced off against each other.
Harris continues to hunker down in Pittsburgh, engaging in mock debates on a stage with full lighting that has been established in her hotel to help stimulate Tuesday’s environment.
She is also relying on many of the advisers who helped prepare Hillary Clinton in 2016, including Philippe Reines who stands in for Trump and approaches his role like a method actor — playing the part of Trump while wearing a wig, according to a source.
The Trump campaign is aware of Harris’ extensive debate preparation — with former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who is advising Trump on the debate, saying on “Fox and Friends on Monday that “Harris should not be underestimated” given her “solid” debate prep.
“She’s taking this debate seriously,” Gabbard said. “She will come prepared with memorized lines, ready to recite and deliver them in what I think, a very effective way.”
Gabbard said Trump “doesn’t need to” prepare like Harris, and he has instead engaged in nontraditional prep that includes speaking to the American people through interviews and town halls.
Vice President Kamala Harris, made a campaign stop at the Throwback Brewery on September 4, 2024 in North Hampton, New Hampshire.
John Tully/Getty Images
Gabbard added that Harris’ record speaks for itself and that Trump is “very much focused on the issues.” He will emphasize her role as the incumbent vice president leading the current administration.
Still, the former president is preparing more than he’s letting on, sources told ABC News. Trump is holding informal policy sessions with a small team of advisers, including Gabbard and Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Gaetz has been firing questions at Trump around some of the more challenging issues, such as his legal troubles, according to the sources.
ABC News’ Emily Chang, Soo Rin Kim, Kelsey Walsh and Lalee Ibssa contributed to this report.
As the 2020 presidential election draws near, the strategies of the candidates are becoming increasingly important. The upcoming ABC News debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is sure to be a pivotal moment in the campaign. Both candidates have been working tirelessly to craft their messages and appeal to voters, but their strategies leading up to this debate reveal some key differences in their approaches.
Vice President Harris has been focusing on highlighting her experience and qualifications for the presidency. She has been emphasizing her record as a senator and as the first female vice president, as well as her plans for the future. Harris has also been reaching out to key demographics, such as women and people of color, in an effort to broaden her base of support. In addition, Harris has been using social media and other digital platforms to connect with voters and get her message out.
On the other hand, former President Trump has been taking a more aggressive approach in his campaign strategy. He has been attacking Harris on a number of fronts, including her record as a prosecutor and her policies on issues such as immigration and healthcare. Trump has also been using rallies and other public appearances to energize his base and rally support for his candidacy. Additionally, Trump has been leveraging his strong presence on social media to reach his supporters and spread his message.
In terms of debate preparation, both candidates are likely to be focusing on honing their messaging and preparing for potential attacks from their opponent. Harris will likely be looking to highlight her policy proposals and vision for the country, while Trump will likely be looking to paint Harris as a radical leftist and attack her on her record.
Overall, the strategies of the Harris and Trump campaigns leading up to the ABC News debate reflect their differing approaches to the campaign. Harris is focusing on highlighting her qualifications and reaching out to key demographics, while Trump is taking a more aggressive approach in attacking his opponent and energizing his base. It will be interesting to see how these strategies play out in the debate and how they will impact the race moving forward.
