Philadelphia gears up for Harris-Trump debate with protests expected
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A sign supporting Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris on a pavement ahead of her debate with Republican nominee Donald Trump in Philadelphia.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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PHILADELPHIA – It is the birthplace of US independence, the City of Brotherly Love and the home town of beloved fictional boxer Rocky Balboa.
Now, Philadelphia in Pennsylvania will be centre stage again when Vice-President Kamala Harris and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump meet in a highly anticipated televised debate that could weigh heavily on the November election.
The two, who have never met in person, will square off for a 90-minute debate hosted by ABC News.
The police are bracing themselves for protests, with pro-Palestinian groups angry with Ms Harris’ continued support of Israel planning to demonstrate. Barricades have been erected around the National Constitution Centre, the site of the debate, barring access to the historic area that includes the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the US Constitution was signed.
Meanwhile, several of the city’s bars and universities are planning watch parties. Top Democrats will gather at a hotel for a watch party that Ms Harris is expected to attend after the debate ends. Trump’s plans after the debate are not yet public.
In the afternoon of Sept 9, an airplane banner flew over the Phillies’ baseball team home game that read: “Don’t Strikeout W/Trump Go to Bat 4Harris.”
Some Philadelphia residents said they hoped to learn more about Ms Harris.
“I wasn’t, like, super impressed with her in 2020 when she had the presidential debates and for the primary,” said Mr Dan Bessler, a Philadelphia resident and sales worker.
“But she is a prosecutor... I think she’ll be able to hold her own better than Biden was able to at his age.”
President Joe Biden’s faltering debate performance against Trump in June essentially ended his political career, sparking powerful Democrats to convince him he should step aside and allow Ms Harris to run instead.
Since then, Ms Harris has broken fund-raising records and sparked new enthusiasm in the party, but opinion polls suggest a tight race looms with Trump.
With 19 electoral votes, Pennsylvania is the biggest prize of the basket of battleground states expected to decide the election. Most pundits predict whoever wins Pennsylvania will win the White House.
Democrats historically win Pennsylvania by running up huge margins in Philadelphia, to offset losses throughout much of the rest of the state.
In 2020, the city saw its highest turnout since 1984 – 68 per cent — but it paled beside the statewide figure of 76.5 per cent. REUTERS
