• Kamala Harris and Donald Trump engaged in a heated presidential debate, discussing a range of issues.
• Harris, a former prosecutor, managed to shift the focus onto Trump, prompting him to deliver a series of falsehood-filled retorts.
• Pop star Taylor Swift announced her support for Harris post-debate, providing a significant boost to her campaign.
• The debate's impact on the election outcome remains unclear, but it has added a new dimension to the closely contested race.

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris managed to put Republican Donald Trump in defensive throughout the most-watched Philadelphia Presidential Debate on Tuesday with an outcome tweaked entirely in favour of her. There were eight weeks remaining before the election and early voting was about to commence in some states for the November 2024 poll.

The debate was hosted at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, a venue that has seen many such political events in the past. The candidates sparred over a range of issues, including abortion limits, fitness for office, legal issues, immigration, foreign policy, healthcare, the economy, inflation, and their respective stances on Israel and Russia. However, the debate was light on specific policy details, with Harris' forceful approach successfully shifting the focus onto Trump.

Harris, a former prosecutor, appeared to ruffle Trump repeatedly, prompting a visibly irate Trump to deliver a series of falsehood-filled retorts. At one point, she brought up Trump's campaign rallies, goading him by saying that people often leave early out of exhaustion and boredom.

Trump's Counter-attacks and Harris' Significant Moment

Trump, who has been frustrated by the size of Harris' own crowds, retorted, "My rallies, we have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics." He then pivoted to an unsubstantiated claim that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating the pets of residents.

The debate was particularly significant for Harris, as more than a quarter of likely voters felt they did not know enough about her. Having entered the race only seven weeks prior, following President Joe Biden's exit, this was a crucial opportunity for her to introduce herself to the American public and showcase her views and debating skills.

In a surprising turn of events, pop megastar Taylor Swift announced her support for Harris and her running mate Tim Walz in the upcoming Nov. 5 election. Swift, who has a massive following of 283 million on Instagram, made the announcement in a post immediately following the debate. The post quickly garnered nearly 2 million likes within 25 minutes, providing a significant boost to the Harris campaign.

Impact on Election and Historical Precedence

The debate's impact on the candidates' chances of winning the election was immediately evident. According to online prediction market PredictIt, Trump's likelihood of victory declined during the debate to 47% from 52%, while Harris' odds improved to 55% from 53%. However, the actual impact on the election, especially among undecided voters, was unclear.

The debate was reminiscent of historical events where presidential debates have had significant impacts on the election outcomes. For instance, the 1960 presidential debates between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon are often cited as a turning point in that election. Kennedy's strong performance in the debates is believed to have helped him secure a narrow victory over Nixon.

The impact of the debate on the election outcome remains to be seen, but it has certainly added a new dimension to the closely contested race. The debate, like many before it, has the potential to sway public opinion and could be a deciding factor in the upcoming election.