Advice for the Trump-Harris Debate

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Aides to both Donald J. Trump and Kamala Harris see Tuesday’s debate in Philadelphia as a crucial moment to define Ms. Harris for millions of swing voters who know what they think about Mr. Trump but are still curious about her.Credit…Doug Mills/The New York Times, Jamie Kelter Davis for The New York Times

To the Editor:

Re “Rehearsal Stage and Some Improv Ahead of Debate” (front page, Sept. 8):

My advice to Vice President Kamala Harris for her debate against Donald Trump is: Don’t equivocate and don’t come across as too packaged by debate strategists.

The voters are fed up with politicians who follow the not too hot, not too cold, just right Goldilocks rule. What they want is authenticity.

I believe that the hard-core supporters of both candidates have already made up their minds about whom to vote for. It’s the undecided who will determine the winner of this election.

John A. Viteritti
Laurel, N.Y.

To the Editor:

Many swing voters dislike Donald Trump’s extremes of character but will believe his false debate spiel that his policies will lower the inflation that President Biden caused. Kamala Harris must clarify that Covid caused inflation, with massive job vacancies and decreased supply chains, and that Mr. Trump will worsen it.

For example, Mr. Trump’s core policy of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants would again cause shortages of labor (including in the construction and food industries) and again raise prices. His core policy to increase tariffs would also raise prices. At the debate, Ms. Harris must present specific plans for more affordable groceries and housing and explain logically why her plans are better than Mr. Trump’s.

Ms. Harris must come across as a resolutely center-left, strong, vibrant presidential candidate in juxtaposition to Mr. Trump, who, at age 78, would be the oldest president ever inaugurated, with a vice president, JD Vance, age 40, who would be one of the youngest, with minimal political experience.

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