Pressuring is growing on Donald Trump to agree to a second debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. Some Republicans believe a second event would allow Trump to correct his mistakes and demonstrate more discipline. GOP strategists say the former President has nothing to lose and should take the opportunity to speak to millions of voters.
Former Trump adviser Steve Cortes said, “We’re in a very tight race,” and the Republican should seize the chance “to speak in front of a super large audience.” The Harris campaign accepted CNN’s invitation to debate on October 23, but Trump told a rally in North Carolina that it was now too late.
The Vice President challenged her rival again at a New York event and said he “seems to be looking for an excuse” to avoid an ecounter. Harris added that the candidates owe a second debate to the American people, and she feels strongly that they should “meet once more before election day.”
Trump declared himself the victor immediately after the first debate in Philadelphia, but mainstream polling veered more toward Kamala Harris. An ABC poll called it for Harris by 58% to Trump’s 36%, but on his Truth Social media account, the former President likened the Vice President to a fighter who had just been knocked out and wanted a rematch.
Other ABC figures show, however, that a significant chunk of public opinion had shifted in Harris’s favor. Thirty-seven percent of viewers had a more favorable view of her after the debate, compared to 17% that saw Trump in a more positive light. Additionally, 30% viewed Trump less favorably, compared to just 23% for Harris.
Meanwhile, election polling shows the race getting tighter, with Harris maintaining a slim lead of 5% nationally and an even slimmer lead in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. A YouGov survey on September 20 gave Harris a 51% to 49% lead in the swing states, while others showed her favorability at a new high of 53%. Nevertheless, Trump leads in Arizona, and a New York Times poll showed that he is 4% ahead in Georgia.
