Highlights from the just-finished debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris:
Issue: Economy and cost of living
Kamala: "I will give tax cuts to middle class families and small businesses"
Trump attacked Biden and Kamala for increasing inflation.
Question to Trump: "Your proposed import tariffs will increase prices"
Trump: "No, they will not. And Biden has not removed the tariffs that I had put earlier"
Kamala did not say anything about Biden not removing Trump's tariffs - and instead attacked Trump's policies.
Issue: Abortion
Trump: "States must decide this matter"
Kamala: "Trump is responsible for the Supreme Court striking down the Roe Vs Wade verdict (the right to abortion)". Kamala attacked Trump aggressively with emotional examples - because this is an important issue for women (who are 50% of the voters).
Question to Kamala: "Illegal immigration reached an all-time high under the Biden government - and you were in charge of border security. Why did you act only in the last 6 months?"
Kamala did not answer the question - and instead attacked Trump's policies.
Trump counter-attacked Biden and Kamala.
Question to Trump: "You plan to deport all illegal immigrants. How will you do it?"
Trump did not answer the question - and instead attacked Biden and Kamala.
Kamala counter-attacked Trump.
Question to Kamala: "You have flip-flopped on a lot of issues - like banning fracking"
Kamala: "I will not ban fracking". She did not say anything about her other flip-flops.
Trump attacked Kamala.
Question to Trump: "Do you have any regrets about the January 6 riots by your supporters?"
Trump did not answer the question - and instead attacked the Democrats.
Kamala attacked Trump.
Question to Trump: "Do you accept that you lost the last election?"
Trump: "No, I do not accept"
Question to Kamala: "Do you think Trump will suppress the vote this time?"
Kamala did not answer the question - and instead attacked Trump.
Issue: Israel-Gaza war
Kamala: "I want a two-state solution that gives Israel security and Palestine freedom". A balanced answer.
Trump: "Kamala hates both Israel and Arabs" (!)
Question to Trump: "Do you want Ukraine to win its war against Russia?"
Trump: "I just want the war to end"
Kamala attacked Russia and Trump.
Question to Kamala: "Do you accept responsibility for our retreat from Afghanistan?"
Kamala defended the retreat - and attacked Trump for creating the problem by negotiating with the Taliban.
Trump defended himself - and counter-attacked Biden and Kamala.
Question to Trump: "Why do you talk about Kamala's race?"
Trump: "I don't care about her race"
Kamala attacked Trump as a racist.
Question to Trump: "What is your alternate plan to the Democrats' health insurance program (Obamacare)?"
Trump did not give any specifics - and just attacked Obamacare.
Question to Kamala: "You have flip-flopped on health insurance policy"
Kamala attacked Trump and defended Obamacare.
Question: "What will you do to tackle climate change?"
Kamala: "I will revive America's manufacturing". A very strange answer to give.
Trump attacked Kamala.
Closing statements:
Kamala: "We have very different philosophies - I look forward and he looks backward"
Trump: "Why didn't she do anything for 4 years as Vice President?". He attacked Biden and Kamala.
Summary:
# Trump was his usual self - with his personal attacks and sweeping statements. But his simple language appeals to most ordinary Americans.
# Kamala is a good debater - and was well-prepared with data-points and specific policies. But she was weak in defending her and Biden's track record.
# The moderators conducted the debate well and were fact-checking both the candidates - especially Trump.