Even Republicans Know Trump Lost The Debate
The verdict is in — Kamala Harris decisively won the debate. She came across as well informed and assertive. Harris met the commander-in-chief test. In contrast, Trump came across as angry and unhinged. All of the post debate polling and focus groups have confirmed Harris’ big victory.
A lot of what Trump said on the debate stage he has said numerous times before. Nevertheless, the mainstream media largely ignored his belligerent incoherence and crazy conspiracy theories. But at the debate, 67 million people tuned in to see for themselves and they were shocked by Trump’s appearance and demeanor.
The reality before the debate is that most voters didn’t know who Trump is. What most people have seen is sane washed — print news summaries and short video clips that edited out the full crazy. The media had edited Trump’s unhinged remarks for years to make him seem like a normal and sane candidate. Seeing him uncensored matters.
Haley and DeSantis warned the GOP about Trump’s age and declining health. Haley said Trump was unhinged and DeSantis said he lost the zip on his fast ball. They knew something many people didn’t know.
Trump refused to debate his GOP opponents and has kept a light campaign schedule. He had covered up his age and failing mental health. Trump won the GOP nomination under false pretenses.
Harris busted Trump at the debate and it wasn’t pretty. The cover up is over. The biggest issue should now be Trump’s incoherence and general lack of any serious grasp on policy.
New polling since the debate has confirmed Harris’ win:
Harris 52 — Trump 46 (+6) ABC
Harris 50 — Trump 45 (+5) Morning Consult
Harris 47 — Trump 42 (+5) Ipsos/Reuters
Harris 49 — Trump 45 (+4) YouGov/Times (likely voters)
Harris 50 — Trump 47 (+3) Leger/NYPost
Harris 48 — Trump 45 (+3) SoCal
The biggest problem for Trump is that many Republicans believe he lost the debate.
Percent saying Trump won the debate by party: Democrats 6, Independents 25 and Republicans 68. 68 percent of your own party is low. (Harris had 90 percent of Dems.)
(You Gov America poll — September 11.)
You have to evaluate these polls in the context of the long Democratic winning streak dating back to 2018. The Democrats have out performed the polls since Dobbs and Trump under performed the polls during the primary cycle.
After the debate, even Trump’s handlers were talking about the debate disaster. “Down ballot Republicans are very angry and worried,” one Trump staffer told me. “We did not do well.” Salon.
“Senate Republicans blamed Trump for failing to ask Harris pointed questions and pin down her record. They’re also worried that Trump’s rants will be the main takeaway for undecided voters who tuned in on Tuesday night.” The Hill.
Republican member of Congress bemoaned Trump’s unhinged performance. From Axios:
“He has taken the bait more than he should,” one lawmaker said.
“I’m just sad,” one House Republican who is supportive of Trump told The Hill. “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.”
A second House Republican, who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive topic, said “many” in the GOP conference were “disappointed” that Trump could not stay on message throughout the debate.
“She 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.”
The Republican media even conceded that Trump lost. The prominent MAGA Republican media stars who admitted that Trump lost are as follows: Neil Cavuto, Brit Hume and the writers on the Wall Street Journal Editorial page. All of these media stars work for Rupert Murdoch owned companies.
The most scathing reviews came from Andrew McCarthy of National Review, former George W. Bush campaign chief Karl Rove and long time GOP pollster Frank Luntz.
“If you’re obsessing over how bad, how in the tank for Kamala Harris, the two ABC news moderators were, it’s because you don’t want to come to grips with the brute fact that Donald Trump was a disaster last night. He was unhinged, often incoherent, incapable of completing thoughts and sentences when he had points to make, and led into self-absorbed rabbit-holes . “ — Trump’s Trainwreck by Andrew McCarthy of National Review.
“There’s no putting lipstick on this pig. Mr. Trump was crushed by a woman he previously dismissed as ‘dumb as a rock.’ Which raises the question: What does that make him?” — Karl Rove.
“I think he loses the election because of this debate performance “— Frank Luntz.
The Harris campaign responded to her commanding performance by challenging Dementia Don Old Trump to another debate. “That was fun,” Harris’ communications director wrote. “Let’s do it again in October.”
Meanwhile, Don Old has chickened out from another debate with this crazed post:
“When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, “I WANT A REMATCH.” Polls clearly show that I won the Debate against Comrade Kamala Harris, the Democrats’ Radical Left Candidate, on Tuesday night, and she immediately called for a Second Debate. She and Crooked Joe have destroyed our Country, with millions of criminals and mentally deranged people pouring into the USA, totally unchecked and unvetted, and with Inflation bankrupting our Middle Class. Everyone knows this, and all of the other problems caused by Kamala and Joe — It was discussed in great detail during the First Debate with Joe, and the Second Debate with Comrade Harris. She was a no-show at the Fox Debate, and refused to do NBC & CBS. KAMALA SHOULD FOCUS ON WHAT SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE DURING THE LAST ALMOST FOUR YEAR PERIOD. THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!”
Is this normal? There is no sane washing from me. You will get the unvarnished, insane Trump here.
From a historical perspective, Harris’ victory was one of the greatest in the history of debates and sets her up nicely to win the election.
“I have coached a lot of presidential and other candidate debates. Harris had one of the very best debates ever. JFK level 1960, Reagan level 1980. Even more unanimous judgment that she won commandingly- and Trump lost abysmally.” Bob Shrum, former speechwriter for Edward Kennedy. In 1980, Reagan’s reassuring performance caused undecided voters to break heavily for him. Similarly, I expect undecided voters to end up in the Harris column.
There is an anti-MAGA majority outside of the red states. Trump has never once gotten more votes than his political opponent. And under his stewardship, the Republican Party has had historic electoral defeats in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023. The Democratic winning streak has continued into 2024.
“Fellow Dems one way we have to make Trump look small not big is to remind folks we are winning the election and he is losing.” Simon Rosenberg.
Be confident going forward. Take nothing for granted. Keep working hard.
It’s America or convicted felon Trump. Choose wisely.