Harris’s Combative Debate Style Will Get Its Biggest Test Against Trump

The New York Times ^ | Sept. 7, 2024 | Lisa Lerer

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Kamala Harris’s razor-sharp debate skills have powered her political ascent. Her success next week will turn on how well she adapts to an unpredictable rival.

Few of the people gathered in the San Francisco church knew quite what to expect from Kamala Harris.

It was 2003, and the two men she faced in her first political campaign were well-known brawlers locked in a rematch to become the city’s district attorney — one of whom was her former boss.

Ms. Harris was a little-known government lawyer who had landed in the local gossip pages for dating Willie Brown, one of the state’s most powerful politicians. The attack on her was obvious: political patronage, packaged with a whiff of sexual intrigue.

After an audience member asked about her ties to Mr. Brown, she rose from her seat at the front of the sanctuary as her two opponents, Bill Fazio and Terence Hallinan, looked on.

Ms. Harris walked behind Mr. Fazio, asking if the audience remembered how Mr. Hallinan had attacked him for being caught in a massage parlor in a 1998 raid. She walked behind Mr. Hallinan, asking if the audience remembered how Mr. Fazio had attacked him for being a “deadbeat dad” who failed to pay child support.

As faint gasps echoed across the room, Ms. Harris wrapped her punch in a gauzy pledge. Unlike her opponents, she promised that she would run a campaign based on the issues, not on negative attacks.

The crowd jumped to its feet in a standing ovation, recounted Jim Stearns, a political consultant who had helped Ms. Harris in the race.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Kamala Harris’s razor-sharp debate skills have powered her political ascent. Her success next week will turn on how well she adapts to an unpredictable rival.

Who knew you could pack that much gaslight into a single sentence?

[wildcard_redneck]

“Kamala Harris’s razor-sharp debate skills” OMG, I laughed so hard I started to choke.

[Fido969]

Lol

[BenLurkin]

Hopefully PDJT will simply ignore her.

Make his own points and act like she isn’t even in the room.

She is just a figure head. Like Obama and Biden before her. Mere public faces of the Democrat Party Politburo.

[italianquaker]

Stop reading after that

[linedrive]

You got that right! Her ascent was astonishingly magnificent in the 2020 run for the nomination. So impressive the nomination was handed to her this time around

[kiryandil]

Kamala Harris’s razor-sharp debate skills didn’t survive the curb-stomping by Tulsi Gabbard...

[blackdog]

Huh? More School busses and unburdening of what has been?

[DeplorablePaul]

So Kamala dredged up dirt on her opponents represents razer like debating skills? Good luck with that. Trump is immune.

[blackdog]

Howard Dean on estrogen therapy.

[joshua c]

she called biden a racist

there is that

so expect more of the same

[DownInFlames]

I stopped reading after the 1st sentence.

[jerod]

Combative??? So she’s a Karen?

Everybody loves ‘Karen’ youtube videos, and everybody hates ‘Karen’s’.

[shanover]

She’s just looking for “I’m talking” and other gems the propaganda machine will spin like she slayed Biden and Pence.

[x]

After an audience member asked about her ties to Mr. Brown, she rose from her seat at the front of the sanctuary as her two opponents, Bill Fazio and Terence Hallinan, looked on.

Ms. Harris walked behind Mr. Fazio, asking if the audience remembered how Mr. Hallinan had attacked him for being caught in a massage parlor in a 1998 raid. She walked behind Mr. Hallinan, asking if the audience remembered how Mr. Fazio had attacked him for being a “deadbeat dad” who failed to pay child support.

As faint gasps echoed across the room, Ms. Harris wrapped her punch in a gauzy pledge. Unlike her opponents, she promised that she would run a campaign based on the issues, not on negative attacks.

That has to be read to be believed.

[ArtDodger]

Razor sharp. Yeah, Willie liked it when she used some teeth.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

That has to be read to be believed.

War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.

[kiryandil]

Q: What's Kammy's favorite flavor of yogurt?

A: "Man"

[kiryandil]

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4263399/posts?page=18#18

[Steely Tom]

I thought she was going to “spread joy.”