Despite reports of Harris gaining momentum in key battleground states, the Trump campaign insists the former president delivered a clear victory in the debate, calling her performance a "memorized lines" stunt.
The Trump campaign remains steadfast in its assessment of former President Trump's debate performance, dismissing Vice President Kamala Harris' perceived victory as an artificial "sugar high." Senior campaign adviser Tim Murtaugh expressed the campaign's viewpoint in an interview with Fox News Digital, asserting that Harris' performance was nothing more than a performance.
Murtaugh emphasized the campaign's belief that Harris failed to address her record and goals as a potential president, leaving viewers uninformed. He further criticized the media's focus on Harris' debate performance, calling it an overemphasis that underestimated Trump's own strong showing.
Trump Campaign Dubs Debate Victory, Dismisses Harris' Performance as "Sugar High
Trump himself has declared that he will not be participating in any further debates, adding to the campaign's narrative of a successful debate performance. Despite the initial perception that Harris emerged victorious from the encounter, polling expert Nate Silver highlights the remaining six toss-up states that could tip the election towards either candidate.
Recent Fox News Power Rankings have shifted slightly, showing Harris with a narrow lead in Georgia and North Carolina, states where Trump previously held an edge. Nationally, Harris trails Trump by just one point, 49% to 48%, according to a recent Fox News poll.
Trump Campaign Dubs Debate Victory, Dismisses Harris' Performance as "Sugar High
Murtaugh attributed Trump's solid performance to his refusal to let Harris deflect from her progressive record and responsibility in the Biden-Harris administration. He cited Harris' flip-flops on various issues, such as fracking, immigration, healthcare, gun control, and tax cuts.
Murtaugh also criticized Harris for failing to distance herself from the Biden-Harris administration, implying that her attempts to present herself as a fresh face were unconvincing. Despite the praise from pundits for Harris' performance, Murtaugh dismissed it as mere style points that would not translate into votes.
Trump Campaign Dubs Debate Victory, Dismisses Harris' Performance as "Sugar High
Polls indicate that Trump retains an advantage on top issues like the economy, with a CNN poll showing that 55% of voters prefer Trump's economic platform compared to Harris' 35%. Undecided voters, however, may not have been swayed by Harris' performance, according to interviews conducted by Reuters and the New York Times.
Murtaugh attributed this to Harris' failure to connect with undecided voters, convince them of her seriousness as a candidate, and dispel the perception that she has been hiding from the public eye. In essence, the Trump campaign's position is that Harris' debate performance was a superficial display that failed to make a meaningful impact on the race.
Trump Campaign Dubs Debate Victory, Dismisses Harris' Performance as "Sugar High
