After Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a drubbing to disgraced former president Donald Trump in a freewheeling and contentious debate in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, the Republican spent Wednesday licking his wounds as most people commemorated the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and making excuses to avoid another ferocious verbal beating in final weeks before Election Day.
Trump is balking at the idea of a second debate, but Harris called for another match almost immediately after the first one concluded.
Registered voters who watched the debate said, 63% to 37%, that Harris turned in a better performance, according to a CNN poll of debate watchers conducted by SSRS.
Trump and GOP vice presidential contender JD Vance stopped Wednesday morning at a New York City fire station just after appearing at a separate commemoration for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The Republicans spent about half an hour talking to people inside the station before emerging to pose for photos with first responders. Trump pumped his fist a bit and gave a thumbs up for the camera.
Trump left shortly before 11 a.m., without making remarks to reporters set up across the street.
Trump told Fox News’s Sean Hannity that he believed he put on a strong performance after the event.
“I had a good time, I think it was our best debate ever,” said the disgraced former president, before launching into a tirade complaining about the moderators, ABC News’s David Muir and Linsey Davis.
Music superstar Taylor Swift announced after the presidential debate that she plans to vote for Harris in the 2024 presidential election, in a lengthy Instagram post in which she indetified as a “Childless Cat Lady,” and urged her enormous fandom to do their research and head to the polls.
“Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics that matter to you the most. As a voter, I make sure to watch and read everything I can about their proposed policies and plans for this country,” said Swift in her post.
“I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades,” wrote Swift.
Congressional Republicans are bemoaning Trump’s performance in the first — and potentially only — debate against Harris, acknowledging that the Democratic nominee successfully got under her GOP opponent’s skin.
Several times throughout the more than 90-minute debate in Philadelphia, Harris successfully baited Trump with attacks on matters that hit close to home — the size of his rallies, the magnitude of his family fortune, world leaders “laughing” at him — in an effort to thwart his composed posture.
“I’m just sad,” said one House Republican who supports Trump. “She knew exactly where to cut to get under his skin. Just overall disappointing that he isn’t being more composed like the first debate.”
“The road just got very narrow,” the GOP Congressman added. “This is not good.”
Another House Republican, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said “many” in the GOP conference were “disappointed” that Trump could not stay on message throughout the debate.
“She talks to us like toddlers but is doing a good job provoking him. He [is] right on policy but can’t keep to a message,” the lawmaker said. “Many are disappointed he couldn’t stay focused or land a punch. Not sure much changes but it wasn’t a good performance.”
New Jersey Democratic US Sen. Cory Booker said he is concerned about the closeness of the race.
“This race is going to come down to, you know, just a few 1,000 votes probably,” said Booker.
“The electoral college/popular mismatch is getting more significant, rather than less significant,” said Virginia Democratin US Sen. Tim Kaine, who learned as Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016, “you can’t win by a little. You’ve got to win by a lot.”