Trump Faces His 'Weak Spot' During the Debate
The former president is trailing by significant margins with this important voter group.
TroibNews 
Former President Donald Trump is currently facing a significant disadvantage among female voters, trailing by double digits in recent polls.
In a forthcoming debate, he will share the stage with Vice President Kamala Harris, a woman he has been known to criticize publicly and privately in ways that many perceive as sexist. Trump's supporters are hoping he can maintain his composure and not exacerbate the situation during this encounter.
In previous debates against Hillary Clinton, Trump attempted to undermine and belittle her, as well as female moderators. This time, advisors are urging him to concentrate on Harris's record rather than her personally. Although he has recently asserted that his administration “will be great for women and their reproductive rights,” he has struggled with questions related to abortion and child care and has spent time before the debate attacking women who have accused him of sexual misconduct.
David Urban, a former Trump campaign adviser, stated, “his performance with female voters is the weak spot in his campaign right now. I think he can attack her policies without attacking her. And that’s the kind of needle he has to thread. You can attack the vice president of the United States for her failed policies without attacking the woman.”
Urban believes the debate's format, featuring muted microphones when each candidate speaks, will play to Trump’s strengths. He explained, “She’s not going to have her moment where she can say ‘I’m trying to speak,’ like she did with [former Vice President Mike] Pence. You’re not going to have those awkward moments like that,” and noted that Trump demonstrated discipline in his first debate with [President Joe] Biden.
Although the setup minimizes interruptions, some of Trump’s allies worry that Harris might provoke him into losing his temper.
“She’s going to try to bait him,” one associate mentioned. “I mean, the lines are almost predictable, right? So the question is, does he take it or not?”
Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt asserted, “Anyone running for president of the United States should be held to the highest possible standards regardless of their gender. President Trump has been a fierce debater against all the opponents he has faced — men and women — since 2016.”
National polling indicates that Trump continues to struggle with women voters. According to a New York Times/Siena College poll released on Sunday, Harris led Trump by 11 points among women, which is an improvement over Biden's 15-point lead during the 2020 election. Nevertheless, the overall race between the two candidates remains tight.
Despite Trump claiming that “women love me, and I love them,” he has not made significant gains with female voters. His campaign has primarily focused on attracting young male voters, leading allies to question whether they should utilize more female surrogates on the campaign trail.
Unlike Clinton, the first female Democratic presidential nominee, Harris has not heavily spotlighted her gender. As a Black woman and Indian American, she chooses to emphasize her middle-class background and her history as a prosecutor.
Harris’s team has adeptly responded to Trump’s gender- and race-related attacks, condemning his rhetoric while swiftly pivoting back to policy matters. Trump’s approach has historically diverted attention away from key issues, often forcing opponents into a defensive stance.
Christina Reynolds, senior vice president of communications at EMILY's List and a veteran of Clinton’s 2016 campaign, remarked on Harris's effectiveness in facing attacks. “I think that Kamala Harris has handled these sorts of attacks in an incredibly effective way, which is to call them out for what they are. ‘A tired old playbook,’ right? These attacks are of the past; it’s him trying to go backwards and then to use it to pivot into what she will do.”
During the debate, aides expect Harris to maintain this strategy by addressing the attacks but guiding the conversation back to policy and her campaign’s core message, which asserts that Trump is attempting to drag the country backward. This tactic was evident in a recent CNN interview, where she dismissed Trump’s questioning of her racial identity as “the same old tired playbook.”
Patti Solis Doyle, who managed Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign, noted, “The way that she’s been handling it up until now has been pitch-perfect. Don’t take the bait. That’s much harder to do when you’re standing five feet from the man.”
To prepare for the debate against Harris, Trump’s team enlisted former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who has debated Harris in the past and provided insights on her experience. During their interaction in the 2020 Democratic primary, Gabbard criticized Harris over her prosecutorial record, a moment regarded as pivotal in stalling Harris's rise in the race.
Gabbard emphasized that Harris would aim to provoke Trump and advised him to concentrate on policy. “President Trump is very focused on communicating his record of success and how he will continue to put forward policies that I think a lot of women are very concerned about,” she stated.
Leading Harris's debate preparations is Karen Dunn, a prominent lawyer with experience in preparing political candidates for debates. Dunn coordinated debate logistics for Barack Obama and Clinton, and has been instrumental in Harris preparing for her discussions with Trump.
Harris’s team insists she must counter Trump’s anticipated misstatements and personal jabs while projecting a presidential demeanor. She will seek to position herself as the “change candidate” and communicate her plans for the White House.
Ron Klain, former White House chief of staff, remarked, “She’s a strong debater and a very good orator — very good at making her points.”
Trump has exhibited a pattern of resorting to personal attacks in his discussions about Harris since her selection as vice president, evidenced by previous comments questioning her racial background and using her first name in a dismissive manner.
Karen Finney, a former senior aide to Clinton, articulated, “He doesn’t do well with strong, smart, powerful women of color. When he gets his back up, that’s where he goes — the nasty personal attacks.”
Heading into the debate, Trump has avoided referring to his preparatory sessions as “debate prep,” labeling them instead as “policy sessions.” He has not engaged in mock debates nor practiced against a stand-in for Harris, choosing to focus on specific policy areas and scrutinize Harris's record.
Assisting in Trump's preparations are key advisers including Susie Wiles, Chris LaCivita, Jason Miller, Stephen Miller, as well as speechwriters and Rep. Matt Gaetz.
According to his advisors, Trump perceives his extensive media interactions and rallies as a form of debate preparation. Jason Miller remarked, “Kamala Harris' people have had her hiding for the last two months. You can't prepare for President Trump. There's just no way to do it. Imagine it’s like a boxer trying to prepare for Floyd Mayweather or Muhammad Ali; you just don't know what angle they're going to come at you with.”
Natalie Allison contributed to this report.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
In a forthcoming debate, he will share the stage with Vice President Kamala Harris, a woman he has been known to criticize publicly and privately in ways that many perceive as sexist. Trump's supporters are hoping he can maintain his composure and not exacerbate the situation during this encounter.
In previous debates against Hillary Clinton, Trump attempted to undermine and belittle her, as well as female moderators. This time, advisors are urging him to concentrate on Harris's record rather than her personally. Although he has recently asserted that his administration “will be great for women and their reproductive rights,” he has struggled with questions related to abortion and child care and has spent time before the debate attacking women who have accused him of sexual misconduct.
David Urban, a former Trump campaign adviser, stated, “his performance with female voters is the weak spot in his campaign right now. I think he can attack her policies without attacking her. And that’s the kind of needle he has to thread. You can attack the vice president of the United States for her failed policies without attacking the woman.”
Urban believes the debate's format, featuring muted microphones when each candidate speaks, will play to Trump’s strengths. He explained, “She’s not going to have her moment where she can say ‘I’m trying to speak,’ like she did with [former Vice President Mike] Pence. You’re not going to have those awkward moments like that,” and noted that Trump demonstrated discipline in his first debate with [President Joe] Biden.
Although the setup minimizes interruptions, some of Trump’s allies worry that Harris might provoke him into losing his temper.
“She’s going to try to bait him,” one associate mentioned. “I mean, the lines are almost predictable, right? So the question is, does he take it or not?”
Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt asserted, “Anyone running for president of the United States should be held to the highest possible standards regardless of their gender. President Trump has been a fierce debater against all the opponents he has faced — men and women — since 2016.”
National polling indicates that Trump continues to struggle with women voters. According to a New York Times/Siena College poll released on Sunday, Harris led Trump by 11 points among women, which is an improvement over Biden's 15-point lead during the 2020 election. Nevertheless, the overall race between the two candidates remains tight.
Despite Trump claiming that “women love me, and I love them,” he has not made significant gains with female voters. His campaign has primarily focused on attracting young male voters, leading allies to question whether they should utilize more female surrogates on the campaign trail.
Unlike Clinton, the first female Democratic presidential nominee, Harris has not heavily spotlighted her gender. As a Black woman and Indian American, she chooses to emphasize her middle-class background and her history as a prosecutor.
Harris’s team has adeptly responded to Trump’s gender- and race-related attacks, condemning his rhetoric while swiftly pivoting back to policy matters. Trump’s approach has historically diverted attention away from key issues, often forcing opponents into a defensive stance.
Christina Reynolds, senior vice president of communications at EMILY's List and a veteran of Clinton’s 2016 campaign, remarked on Harris's effectiveness in facing attacks. “I think that Kamala Harris has handled these sorts of attacks in an incredibly effective way, which is to call them out for what they are. ‘A tired old playbook,’ right? These attacks are of the past; it’s him trying to go backwards and then to use it to pivot into what she will do.”
During the debate, aides expect Harris to maintain this strategy by addressing the attacks but guiding the conversation back to policy and her campaign’s core message, which asserts that Trump is attempting to drag the country backward. This tactic was evident in a recent CNN interview, where she dismissed Trump’s questioning of her racial identity as “the same old tired playbook.”
Patti Solis Doyle, who managed Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign, noted, “The way that she’s been handling it up until now has been pitch-perfect. Don’t take the bait. That’s much harder to do when you’re standing five feet from the man.”
To prepare for the debate against Harris, Trump’s team enlisted former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who has debated Harris in the past and provided insights on her experience. During their interaction in the 2020 Democratic primary, Gabbard criticized Harris over her prosecutorial record, a moment regarded as pivotal in stalling Harris's rise in the race.
Gabbard emphasized that Harris would aim to provoke Trump and advised him to concentrate on policy. “President Trump is very focused on communicating his record of success and how he will continue to put forward policies that I think a lot of women are very concerned about,” she stated.
Leading Harris's debate preparations is Karen Dunn, a prominent lawyer with experience in preparing political candidates for debates. Dunn coordinated debate logistics for Barack Obama and Clinton, and has been instrumental in Harris preparing for her discussions with Trump.
Harris’s team insists she must counter Trump’s anticipated misstatements and personal jabs while projecting a presidential demeanor. She will seek to position herself as the “change candidate” and communicate her plans for the White House.
Ron Klain, former White House chief of staff, remarked, “She’s a strong debater and a very good orator — very good at making her points.”
Trump has exhibited a pattern of resorting to personal attacks in his discussions about Harris since her selection as vice president, evidenced by previous comments questioning her racial background and using her first name in a dismissive manner.
Karen Finney, a former senior aide to Clinton, articulated, “He doesn’t do well with strong, smart, powerful women of color. When he gets his back up, that’s where he goes — the nasty personal attacks.”
Heading into the debate, Trump has avoided referring to his preparatory sessions as “debate prep,” labeling them instead as “policy sessions.” He has not engaged in mock debates nor practiced against a stand-in for Harris, choosing to focus on specific policy areas and scrutinize Harris's record.
Assisting in Trump's preparations are key advisers including Susie Wiles, Chris LaCivita, Jason Miller, Stephen Miller, as well as speechwriters and Rep. Matt Gaetz.
According to his advisors, Trump perceives his extensive media interactions and rallies as a form of debate preparation. Jason Miller remarked, “Kamala Harris' people have had her hiding for the last two months. You can't prepare for President Trump. There's just no way to do it. Imagine it’s like a boxer trying to prepare for Floyd Mayweather or Muhammad Ali; you just don't know what angle they're going to come at you with.”
Natalie Allison contributed to this report.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
