Why I’m Nervous About the Debate Tonight

Tonight Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will face off in what I suspect will be their only debate. Given the closeness of this race, it could be crucial in determining the outcome. Will it be as consequential as the June debate between Trump and Biden? No, I highly doubt it. But, I’m nevertheless nervous about this upcoming debate because Trump needs to perform a lot better than he did against Joe Biden.

Let’s be honest: Trump didn’t exactly “win” the debate against Biden back in June. Yes, the debate ultimately forced Joe Biden to drop out of the race, but that was because Biden lost by being so shockingly bad, not because Donald Trump cleaned his clock.

Yes, Trump got some good zingers in, but Joe Biden was an exceptionally poor candidate on the debate stage. With his constant gaffes, mumbling and rambling answers, and even freeze-ups, he didn’t lose because of anything Trump said.

Now, Kamala Harris is no Joe Biden, but she isn’t exactly a debate heavyweight either. But the significance of tonight’s debate isn’t lost on her, and she’s been preparing heavily, and I’m sure she’s rehearsed some zingers designed to go viral. Trump, on the other hand, based on recent reports, isn’t preparing nearly as heavily as she is. Maybe that’s a good thing, as Kamala can come across as inauthentic and over-rehearsed, but I’m not sure. (RELATED: Kamala Has One Job in the Debate, and Trump’s Mission Is to Ensure She Fails)

All I know is that if Trump walks in with the same level of aggression and lack of focus that he has demonstrated recently—including in his debate with Joe Biden—Harris won’t have to be good, she’ll just have to be better than expected. Why? Because the media will do the rest for her.

I’ve said this plenty of times, as have many other political pundits, but Trump needs to show discipline. Instead of constant interruptions or making the debate about personality, he has to hammer home the issues that matter: the economy, border security, crime, and foreign policy.

One of the most cringeworthy moments of his debate with Biden was when, apropos of nothing, he brings up winning two golf championships as evidence of his physical and mental prowess.

As much as I understand the point he was trying to make—and Joe Biden made a big mistake by being baited—Trump wasted his time boasting about his golf performance rather than sticking to the issues that people actually care about.

However, this and other misses during that debate were overshadowed by Biden’s disastrous performance. But Trump can’t rely on Harris being as bad as Joe Biden was. He has to force her to defend the disastrous policies of the Biden-Harris administration and link her directly to their failures, and not let his ego get in the way. We’ve seen Trump miss these opportunities before.

That’s why I'm nervous.

If he’s not at his best, Kamala Harris could come across as more presidential than she actually is. That’s the last thing Trump needs as he heads into the final stretch of the election.