By - In boost to campaign, Taylor Swift backs Harris
- Trump put on defensive but he calls it his best debate
- Online prediction market PredictIt says Harris on rise
Trump, who has been frustrated by the size of Harris’ own crowds, said, “My rallies, we have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics.”
“They’re eating the dogs!” he said, as Harris laughed in disbelief. “The people that came in, they’re eating the cats! They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”
Senator JD Vance, he has been assisting former President Donald Trump in spreading the false claim that immigrants are eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
“Talk about extreme,” Harris replied.
With eight weeks remaining until the election and just days before early voting starts in some states, the debate — the only one scheduled — provided a rare chance for both candidates to present their arguments to a television audience of tens of millions of voters. The candidates sparred over immigration, foreign policy, and healthcare, though the debate lacked in-depth policy specifics. Harris’ assertive approach succeeded in shifting the spotlight onto Trump, leaving her supporters elated and some Republicans acknowledging Trump’s difficulties.
Trump repeated his false claim that his 2020 election loss was due to fraud, called Harris a “Marxist,” and falsely claimed that migrants were responsible for a violent crime wave.
“Trump missed an opportunity to stay focused prosecuting the case against Biden-Harris on the economy and border, and instead took her bait and chased down rabbit holes on election denialism and immigrants eating our pets,” said Marc Short, who served as chief of staff for Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence.
In a boost for the Harris campaign, pop megastar Taylor Swift told her 283 million Instagram followers immediately after the debate that she would support Vice President Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, in the November 5 election. She signed off with “childless cat lady,” a reference to controversial remarks made by Vance.
The online prediction market PredictIt’s 2024 presidential election showed Trump’s likelihood of victory declining during the debate, to 47% from 52%, while Harris’ odds rose from 53% to 55%.
In a sign of confidence in the debate’s outcome, Harris’ campaign challenged Trump to a second debate in October. Trump afterwards took the rare step of going into the “spin room,” typically reserved for supporters, where he told reporters, “This was my best debate.”
When asked about the Harris campaign’s call for a second debate, Trump told Fox News: “She wants it because she lost.” He added, “I have to think about it, but if you won the debate, I sort of think maybe I shouldn’t do it. Why should I do another debate?”
Taylor Swift poses with a cat for her endorsement of Kamala Harris.
Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris shake hands as they attend a presidential debate hosted by ABC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 10, 2024 REUTERS/Brian Snyder.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York City, U.S. May 30, 2024 and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, U.S., July 22, 2024 in a combination of file photos. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz, Nathan Howard.
Kamala Harris during the second presidential debate at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia on Sept. 10.
Lara Trump speaks in the spin room, ahead of the debate between Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 10, 2024. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein.
