It is “advantage Harris” after last night’s fiery US Presidential Election debate, according to Ciara Kelly.
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris clashed over a host of issues in a debate that might be voters only chance to see the two candidates face to face ahead of November’s election.
Harris appeared to get under her rival's skin at times, claiming people were leaving Trump rallies out of "boredom" and warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin "would eat him for lunch".
For his part, Trump attacked his rival’s record on immigration and accused her of being a dangerous "Marxist" and the worst vice president ever.
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) September 11, 2024
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, presenter Ciara Kelly said there was no knockout punch landed on either side but most commentators agree that Harris just about had the advantage.
“She had a few killer lines, I would think,” she said.
“She said 81 million people fired Donald Trump and he's having a hard time processing that – I thought that was a great line.
“She also said - he kept coming back about the Biden administration - and she said, ‘You're not running against Biden, you're running against me.
“She kind of slapped him around a little bit.
“I think most people think that Kamala Harris certainly took [the debate] last night but Donald Trump did say at one stage, which I thought was very good, I probably took a bullet to the head because of things that they say about me - they talk about me being a threat to democracy; they're the threat to democracy.
“He made the point that despite the monstering of Donald Trump and the villainizing of Donald Trump, [he is the one that] was shot earlier on in this campaign.
“So there was a few shots fired but overall, I thought he looked needled, I thought he looked angry.”
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) September 11, 2024
As the debate got underway, Trump claimed Ms Harris had no plan for the economy and - as part of the Biden administration - had presided over high inflation and a flood of illegal immigrants taking jobs.
“The vice president, in turn, accused Trump of planning "a tax cut for billionaires and big corporations".
During one of Mr Trump's frequent references to a "dangerous" immigrant influx, he made a bizarre claim there were cases of them eating people's pets.
"In Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in. They're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people that live there," he said.
The debate moderator interjected to clarify that officials in Springfield, Ohio, had reported no credible reports of such incidents.
Fellow presenter Shane Coleman said Harris “knew how to needle” her rival.
“Things like, for example, claiming that at his rallies, people got bored and left or that the numbers weren't as big as he said they were,” he said.
“That kind of stuff really gets to him – she said world leaders were laughing at them.
“If there's ever a man who doesn't like being laughed at, it is Donald Trump.”
Taylor Swift has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential candidacy.
Swift praised Harris as a “steady-handed, gifted leader” and stated she supports Harris because she “fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.” pic.twitter.com/Qg2QtL1NMM
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) September 11, 2024
The two nominees were also questioned on Ukraine, Gaza and Afghanistan during the debate
Trump suggested a win for the Democrats would end up with World War 3 and painted Harris as a "horrible negotiator" who wouldn't be able to stand up for America.
She hit back that Putin "would eat you for lunch", claiming he "exchanged love letters" with Kim Jong-un and "admires dictators".
Mr Trump repeated his belief the Ukraine invasion wouldn't have happened if he were in charge and claimed he would end it within days if he won the election.
Are you ready for it? ? Harris-Walz friendship bracelets have hit the store!
Pre-order yours now: https://t.co/rairIoMe0F pic.twitter.com/0Csc84i7hg
— Official Team Kamala (@TeamKamala) September 11, 2024
There was also a boost for the Democrat hopeful after the debate when Taylor Swift endorsed Harris in a post on Instagram.
Soon afterwards, the Harris campaign celebrated the endorsement with a Tweet showcasing Harris-Walz friendship bracelets.
Reporting from IRN and Michael Staines.
