Kamala Harris wants a second debate, Donald Trump is not so sure

Washington: Kamala Harris’ campaign is pushing for a second presidential debate against Donald Trump but the former president is resisting the idea, insisting that he won their showdown despite getting a “rigged deal” from the moderators.

Hours after sparring over everything from abortion, the economy and immigration, the two candidates nonetheless shared a rare moment of civility at a September 11 memorial service in New York on Wednesday morning (US time), greeting each other with a handshake and smiles alongside President Joe Biden and Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance.

From left, Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden, ex-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former president Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance attend the 9/11 Memorial ceremony. Credit: AP

It was a fleeting exchange of pleasantries after a night in which Trump and Harris traded blows on stage in Philadelphia as they sought to gain the upper hand before election day on November 5.

But as the dust settled on the debate, Trump and his allies went into damage control amid widespread dismay that he was repeatedly baited by Harris, leading to a series of angry, off-message tirades.

Trump’s most bizarre rant took place about 30 minutes into the debate after Harris poked fun at his rallies by saying attendees often leave early “out of exhaustion and boredom”.

After insisting angrily that he has “the biggest” and “most incredible rallies in the history of politics”, Trump then pivoted to making wild claims that Haitian immigrants were kidnapping and eating people’s cats and dogs in the Ohio town of Springfield.

The baseless claim spread on social media in the days ahead of the debate, fuelled in part by Vance, who is a senator for Ohio, promoting it on X.

But Vance doubled down after the debate, telling CNN: “If we have to meme about it to get the media to care, we’re going to keep doing it.”

Trump also insisted he won the debate, and has so far rejected calls by Harris’ campaign for another face-off before voters head to the polls.

“Vice President Harris is ready for a second debate. Is Donald Trump?” said campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon.

Republican vice presidential candidate J. D. Vance speaks to reporters in the “spin room” following the presidential debate.Credit: AP

On social media, Trump replied: “In the world of boxing or UFC, when a Fighter gets beaten or knocked out, they get up and scream ‘I DEMAND A REMATCH, I DEMAND A REMATCH!’ Well it’s no different with a Debate. She was beaten badly last night… so why would I do a rematch?”

The debate was the first time the pair met, and a pivotal chance to woo undecided voters as the race tightens.

Both candidates presented contrasting visions: Trump portrayed America as a “country in decline” that would get worse if a “radical Liberal” was elected president, while Harris cast herself as a “new way forward” and her opponent as a relic of the past.

But even some of Trump’s conservative allies expressed frustration that he veered off course repeatedly and struggled to stay disciplined.

“The Harris campaign has said for a week that it was going to try to get under Trump’s skin by poking fun at his rallies. It worked,” said conservative radio host Erick Erickson.

In reference to the online conspiracy theories about Haitian immigrants, Erickson added: “Trump was also having to deal with the morons of the right, who got in his head and filled him up with a bunch of nonsense before he got on stage.

Democrats, on the other hand, praised Harris’s performance, which followed days of preparation at a Pittsburgh hotel. It included multiple practice runs, a mock set-up mimicking the debate studio layout, and an aide playing Trump to simulate attacks.

Hillary Clinton – who debated Trump ahead of the election in 2016 – also provided advice to Harris, telling her the Republican could be easily triggered.

Taylor Swift has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 US election.Credit: Getty Images

After the debate, Taylor Swift gave Harris her biggest endorsement yet and urged her fans to do their own research and register to vote. Swift had previously endorsed Biden in 2020 and, in 2018, backed Tennessee’s Democratic Senate candidate, Phil Bredesen, who was running against Republican Marsha Blackburn, whom Swift described as “Trump in a wig.”

Trump called into Fox & Friends on Wednesday morning, saying he was not a fan of Taylor Swift and that her endorsement was “just a matter of time”.

He also criticised co-moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis, who fact-checked him five times during the debate, correcting false claims on issues including abortion (where he claimed some Democrats were “OK” with babies being “executed” after birth) and immigration (he was rebuked for a conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants).

The moderators did not apply the same scrutiny to Harris, who also made exaggerated claims about Trump’s ties to the Project 2025 presidential transition plan and the amount of money the Biden-Harris administration has invested in clean energy.

People watch the presidential debate in Jarvis Square, north of Chicago.Credit: AP

“It was a rigged deal as I assumed it would be,” Trump said. “The press is so dishonest in this country. It’s amazing.”

With eight weeks until the election, both sides return to the campaign trail this week, targeting swing states as the race enters its final stretch. However, it remains to be seen whether the debates will shift votes in what has virtually been a neck-and-neck contest for months.

Presidential candidates who have lost their first debate but have also gone on to win elections include George W Bush in 2004, Barack Obama in 2012 and Trump in 2016.

“Whatever people thought about the debate, it’s not the first or last thing they’re going to see, read or hear about when it comes to Harris or Trump,” said veteran Republican consultant Chris Nicholas.

“She did a fairly good job, he wasn’t very good and the moderators were fairly tilted [in Harris’ favour]. But whatever new information voters picked up doesn’t exist in a vacuum.”

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