Notes from the Middleground

Notes from the Middleground

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Notes from the Middleground
Notes from the Middleground
Will It Matter That Harris Won the Philadelphia Debate?
Eyes on the Right

Will It Matter That Harris Won the Philadelphia Debate?

I doubt it—and that's a deeply troubling comment on the state of American democracy

Damon Linker's avatar
Damon Linker
Sep 11, 2024
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Notes from the Middleground
Notes from the Middleground
Will It Matter That Harris Won the Philadelphia Debate?
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Former President of the United States Donald J. Trump and Vice President Harris's first Presidential Debate is displayed on a TV screen in Foster City, California, United States on September 10, 2024. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Even after all this time, I’m still capable of astonishment when confronting the fact that the lunatic bullshit artist on the debate stage last night is basically tied with his opponent in his third race for the presidency of the United States.

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Like almost every pundit in America, I think that Kamala Harris “won” Wednesday night’s debate in Philadelphia, and that it wasn’t close. She had a rough opening, clearly nervous and unsure of herself through the first ten minutes or so, with a wavering voice and dry mouth viscerally confirming it. But after that, she steadied and then often dominated the stage, like a bull fighter repeatedly taunting and baiting a wild beast before a silent audience of millions.

But will it matter to either of their prospects in November? The honest truth is that I doubt it.

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