In the upcoming presidential debate, former President Donald Trump’s aggressive tactics could significantly impact both his and Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaigns. As Trump and Harris face off for the first time, the debate could be a pivotal moment just eight weeks before the November 5 election.

Trump has already launched a series of attacks against Harris, targeting her race and gender. He has falsely claimed that Harris, who is Black and South Asian, "only recently became a Black person" and has shared derogatory messages suggesting she used her sexuality to advance her career. Trump has called her "weak," "dumb as a rock," and "lazy," which align with harmful stereotypes about women and Black people.

Deploying these attacks in a nationally televised debate could be risky for both candidates, as noted by experts and activists. More than 51 million viewers watched the debate between Trump and President Joe Biden in June. Trump's rhetoric could alienate crucial voter groups, including women, Black voters, and moderates, according to John Geer, a professor of presidential politics at Vanderbilt University. "They’re just going to get turned off by that kind of rhetoric," Geer said.

However, Republican strategist Ford O'Connell argues that the race remains tight, suggesting Trump’s attacks have not significantly harmed his support.

Harris faces a delicate challenge. If she dismisses Trump’s insults, she might appear unwilling to defend herself. Conversely, engaging with his rhetoric could drag her into the mudslinging Trump thrives on, potentially leading to accusations of exploiting her race and gender. Overreacting might also reinforce stereotypes, such as the "angry Black woman," according to Kelly Dittmar, director of research at Rutgers University's Center for American Women and Politics. "If Kamala calls it out, will she be accused of playing the race card, the gender card?" Dittmar said.

Harris must also establish her identity for voters who are still unfamiliar with her, following her recent entry into the race. A national poll by The New York Times and Siena College indicated that 28% of likely voters need more information about Harris, while Trump's image is more established.

Harris plans to avoid personal exchanges and aim to provoke Trump into making offensive comments that could go viral. Drawing on her experience as a former prosecutor, she may choose subtle ways to address Trump’s attacks without directly labeling them as racist or sexist. In her 2020 vice presidential debate, she effectively countered interruptions with the phrase, "Mr. Vice President, I'm speaking," a moment that resonated widely.

Harris has expressed readiness for Trump’s tactics, describing his approach as outdated in a recent interview. "There's no floor for him in terms of how low he will go," she said on "The Rickey Smiley Morning Show."

Former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who has been advising Trump, stated that he will focus on Harris’s record and treat her similarly to Biden. "President Trump respects women and doesn't feel the need to be patronizing or to speak to women in any other way than he would speak to a man," Gabbard said.

Despite advice to moderate his tone, Trump has maintained his aggressive style. He has struggled to find effective attacks against Harris, who, unlike Clinton, does not carry the same political baggage. A recent poll by the Democratic research firm Blueprint found that personal attacks based on Harris’s race, gender, or family were largely ineffective across voter groups. More effective criticisms focused on policy issues or portrayed Harris as a liberal from California.

Some of Trump’s attacks, such as questioning Harris's racial identity, are so obviously false that Harris does not need to respond directly. "It was so unbelievably outrageous that everybody was like, ‘That’s ridiculous,’" said Andra Gillespie, an Emory University professor who studies African American politics.

However, Aaron Kall, a debate expert at the University of Michigan, cautions not to underestimate Trump. His background as a reality TV star has honed his debating skills, allowing him to disrupt opponents with sharp retorts and unpredictable tactics. "He may be the best counter-punching debater of all time," Kall said. "He gets people off their talking points. He has relatable language and talks like undecided voters. He’s got a pretty good pulse on what voters are concerned about."

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