Kamala Harris Gains Momentum as Trump Faces Pressure Ahead of Crucial Debate
Source: NPR
Since Kamala Harris became the Democratic frontrunner, former President Donald Trump has struggled in the polls. According to presidential historian Douglas Brinkley, Trump has one last chance to regain his footing before it’s too late. In an appearance on Morning Joe on MSNBC, Brinkley discussed the challenges Trump faces and the opportunities still available to him.
As reported by Raw Story, Brinkley remarked, “Donald Trump is a usurper of democracy, he is a wrecking ball. You’ve been talking, rightfully reminding people of Jan. 6, but the hellscape he has developed of dividing our country. We have a chance to unite, Harris is doing an incredible job, momentum’s going her way, and I think it’s just getting some more young people engaged.”
He highlighted North Carolina as a pivotal battleground state, noting, “North Carolina is really interesting that Harris has a chance of winning there.” Brinkley pointed to an upcoming event that could prove decisive. “But the big moment is Oct. 1. It’s going to be the most important vice presidential debate, I think, in U.S. history when we put [Tim] Walz against [J.D.] Vance,” he said.
As reported by BBC, This debate, Brinkley believes, could be a turning point for Trump’s campaign. If Vance can score a decisive victory, it might give Trump a much-needed boost. Despite two apparent assassination attempts over the summer, which Trump and his allies have attributed to Democrats labeling him a danger to democracy, Brinkley rejected these claims.
The historian, a devout Catholic, offered his prayers for Trump in light of these events, including the near-miss at Mar-a-Lago and a shooting incident that left Trump with an ear injury. However, Brinkley did not hold back in his assessment of Trump’s overall impact on the country. “If you are talking about the danger, the inherent danger of Donald Trump – he’s radioactive.
He wants to come in and gut government because it’s rhetoric that sounds good,” Brinkley warned. He emphasized the risks of dismantling civil services, cautioning that such actions could leave the country “in disarray.” He even went so far as to suggest that Trump’s re-election could have catastrophic global consequences.
In the weeks leading up to Harris’ rise as the Democratic frontrunner, polls had indicated Joe Biden was trailing behind Trump. However, Harris’ entry into the race has invigorated the contest, with the vice president holding a slim lead over Trump. A crucial moment came during a televised debate in Pennsylvania on September 10, where Harris faced off against her Republican contender.
Over 67 million people tuned in, and post-debate surveys indicated that the majority of viewers felt Harris outperformed her opponent. While Harris’ overall support has remained steady, her lead over Trump has grown slightly since the debate, increasing from 2.5 percentage points on debate day to 2.9 points a week later, according to national surveys.
The shift, however, was attributed largely to a decline in Trump’s polling numbers, which dropped by half a percentage point in the days following the debate. As October approaches, all eyes will be on the upcoming vice presidential debate, which could have a lasting impact on the direction of the race. For Trump, it may be his final opportunity to regain lost ground, while Harris continues to build momentum in the lead-up to the election.
