Neither Trump nor Harris spoke to the voters who will decide this election—independents.
The Big Picture
September 10th in Philadelphia marked the first, and perhaps only, time for presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris to speak directly to voters. Would either candidate take the opportunity to win over the undecided?
Of course not.
With hundreds of millions of dollars and the best political strategists at their disposal, both campaigns must know what we know: the path to the White House runs through the middle. Exit polling in 2016 and 2020 tells the story. Trump won independents by four percent in 2016, and Biden won them by 13 percent in 2020. Win independents, or lose—it’s that simple.
Zooming In
Debate Strategy: Red Meat and Name-Calling
Aside from Trump conceding some ground on abortion and in vitro fertilization (IVF) and Harris insisting she will not ban fracking, neither candidate acted as though they understood the importance of winning over independents.
Trump leaned into MAGA rhetoric, calling Harris a Marxist—a message that might resonate with Cold War-era voters but does little for younger independents.
Meanwhile, Harris relied heavily on insults, calling Trump a “weak, pathetic man” and a “disgrace”. Negative partisanship turns off independents and swing voters.
Trump’s Debate Blunders
Trump’s lack of discipline cost him valuable time. His most bizarre moment came when, in a fit of frustration during an immigration discussion, he blurted out, “They’re eating the dogs!”—a comment more suited for a rally than a presidential debate.
When Harris mocked his rallies as boring, he took the bait, spending valuable time defending their size instead of addressing voter concerns. He also doubled down on mass deportation and continued to insist he won the 2020 election.
Harris’s Giveaway Strategy
Harris took the opposite approach—promising free money without explaining how to pay for it. Among her proposals:
- A $6,000 child tax credit.
- A $25,000 first-time homebuyer subsidy.
- A “$50,000 tax deduction” for small businesses.
There was no mention of how these policies would be funded or their impact on the deficit.
Price Controls and Economic Illiteracy
One of Harris’s more troubling policy ideas is capping the cost of prescription drugs. While this may sound appealing, price controls violate fundamental economic theory and often lead to shortages.
Data Snapshot
According to Gallup:
- A majority of Americans lean conservative on economic issues.
- Independents recognize that out-of-control spending is falling onto their shoulders.
Independent Lens
Independent voters want serious leaders who prioritize solutions over partisanship. The debate gave Trump and Harris a chance to engage with us. They failed.
The search for leadership continues.
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