Harris-Trump debate: Voters prioritize policy discussions over personal attacks

Ahead of the second debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, voters are making one thing clear: they want to hear more about policy and less about politics. As the debate nears, the public is calling for a more substantive conversation, with a focus on issues rather than insults.

The debate, set to take place on Tuesday, 10 September at 21:00 local time (01:00 GMT Wednesday), is seen as a critical opportunity for both candidates to reset their campaigns after President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race following his underwhelming debate performance, according to a report by BBC.

Speaking to the BBC, one Republican voter from Utah, who supported Biden in 2020 but now plans to vote for Trump, said, “Kamala Harris has been criticised for staying underground, while Trump is often knocked for his brash debate style. I want to see how Harris handles quick, unscripted questions, but I hope Trump can avoid the personal attacks and just focus on policies.”

A Colorado resident, who voted for Biden in the last election, expressed confidence in Harris’ abilities, noting her strong performance in the vice-presidential debate with Mike Pence.

“I’m excited to see her go head-to-head with Trump,” he told the BBC. “Trump tends to throw out a lot of rapid-fire statements, but I hope Harris can maintain her optimistic message without getting dragged into the drama.”

Meanwhile, an independent voter from Pennsylvania expressed frustration with both candidates, saying she plans to vote third-party or write in a candidate.

“I’m not excited about either of them,” she said. “Debates nowadays are just about who can shout the loudest. I’d like to hear realistic, achievable goals, but I doubt that will happen”, as reported by BBC.

A Trump supporter from 2020 shared similar sentiments, stating that she wants the debate to feel more like a “job interview” and less like a spectacle.

“I think the economy was better under Trump, but I want to hear what Kamala Harris is actually going to do. You can’t run the United States on vibes alone,” she said.

As the debate nears, voters across the political spectrum are calling for a substantive discussion on key issues, hoping for a clearer vision for the future from both candidates.

(with inputs from BBC)

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