Donald Trump vs Kamala Harris debate: Who won presidential debate tonight?

Vice President Kamala Harris was able to make a stronger statement against billionaire Donald Trump, who retreated on a number of issues, including immigration and abortion rights, in a move that might have revitalized the Democratic Party’s campaign for the US elections.

“Trump missed an opportunity to stay focused prosecuting the case against Biden-Harris on the economy and border and instead took her bait and chased down rabbit holes on election denialism and immigrants eating our pets. Harris passed the test of looking presidential and Trump didn’t expose her historically radical positions. The impact will likely extend to competitive House races,” said Marc Short, former chief of staff to VP Pence.

After the debate, even his own party, Republican, seems to have a different opinion on today’s winner. “While Harris was able to get under Trump’s skin with her well-prepared attacks, it’s still not clear that she overwhelmingly convinced these voters to finally make up their minds from this exchange. The question now is how much she actually moved the needle. However, Trump didn’t do himself any favors by agreeing to do this debate,” said Ron Bonjean, Republican Strategist.

“We didn’t learn anything new about Kamala Harris tonight. She wasn’t pressed by the two ABC hosts on anything to explain in more detail or press her on why she changed her positions. But that’s not their job. That’s Donald Trump’s job, and he just wasn’t focused. So, she got the better of him. It’s not going to make much difference in the grand scheme of things. But certainly, put it this way, Kamala Harris, she stood up to the bright lights, she met the moment, she looked and behaved presidential,” said Matthew Klink, GOP Strategist.

According to a different Republican adviser, Trump’s remark about “dogs” prevented him from discussing immigration. “Trump obviously prepared for this debate. Aside from eating dogs leaving, it’s the most on message he’s ever been. Dogs caused him to miss out on an immigration opportunity, and he ought to try to revive it eventually, said to Republican strategist Amy Koch.

“Trump’s complaints about the moderators won’t make the debate go any differently. Their actions didn’t cause him to lose. It was his own performance that cost him. Not their performance, but his own while his lips were moving is why he lost, according to conservative commentator Erick Erickson.

“Harris was almost flawless. She focused on three main topics: abortion, small companies, and US global leadership. Without coming off as harsh, she attacked Trump and put him on the defensive. According to Jeremi Suri, a professor of public affairs and history at the University of Texas at Austin, “Trump was defensive, furious, and ranting, and it showed.” GOP pollster Whit Ayres stated, “I don’t think Donald Trump will be insisting on another debate after tonight.”