As the presidential race enters its final seven weeks, both campaigns have been spending a lot of time in the Keystone State. Pennsylvania is among several battleground states that will decide the outcome of the 2024 presidential election with its 19 electoral college votes.
Pennsylvania’s importance was highlighted in the first, and perhaps only, debate between former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris since she replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic Party nominee.
The Sept. 10 debate held in Philadelphia highlighted the differences in temperament and policy stances between Harris and Trump.
Candidates faced off on immigration, with Trump levying attacks on Harris’ record and the Biden-Harris administration’s inaction on border policy. Harris placed blame on Trump for his role in stopping bipartisan immigration legislation from passing so that he could campaign on a crisis at the southern border.
On the economy, Trump promised to bring back American manufacturing jobs by instituting blanket tariffs on imported goods. Experts warn, however, that like tariffs implemented during Trump’s first term, such a policy would likely result in dramatically increased prices for consumers.
Harris’ economic message focused on policies she says will help the middle class. These included $25,000 in down payment aid for first-time home-buyers, tax rebates for small businesses, and an increase to child tax credits.
Harris was questioned on her stance on fracking, an issue that is on the mind of many Pennsylvanians. Harris previously supported banning the practice, but has come out in support of it.
Abortion was another hotly contested issue. Trump congratulated himself for his role in the Supreme Court’s overturning of the landmark case Roe v. Wade, which had protected the right to abortion nationwide. Harris put emphasis on the human impact of the state laws restricting abortion, especially in cases of rape and incest.
During a discussion on immigration, Trump pushed baseless claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.
“In Springfield they’re eating dogs,” Trump said. “They’re eating the cats. They’re eating … the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”
The claims, which have been disproven according to NBC, have sparked racialized harassment in the small city.
The Trump campaign has stated that it will not participate in another debate against Harris.
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