Debate Does Little to Clarify Trump and Harris Policy Plans

The primary candidates for the nation’s highest office offered little clarity on their policy plans as they met for the first time for a live, televised debate in Philadelphia on Sept. 10. In an opening exchange on the economy representative of the rest of the debate, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump offered no additional details on their plans, misrepresented each other’s positions, and traded attacks on topics including Jan. 6, the pandemic, and the crisis on the U.S. southern border. Although Harris reiterated a handful of policies she has recently introduced and pitched her vision for an “opportunity economy,” outlining her platform was not at the top of her agenda. Instead, Harris devoted significant time to introducing herself to the public in personal terms, talking about her record as a prosecutor, lawmaker, and vice president and describing her middle-class upbringing....