Next week’s Harris/Trump presidential debate
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are set to face off in their first presidential debate on September 10.
Wake Forest University political communications expert Nate French can offer insight on why the timing of this presidential debate matters and how it could set the stage for a winning White House campaign.
French, who is following North Carolina politics and the 2024 race for the White House, is an associate teaching professor. He can provide pre- and post-debate analysis, discuss what issues will resonate well with voters and evaluate how Harris and Trump perform during their televised matchup.
French looks at both verbal and nonverbal communication.
“This debate will be about who looked presidential, who was able to communicate that they are commander in chief,” said French. “Did they persuade the undecided or secure their base and which candidate got their point across the best?”
It’s likely that top issues including the economy, immigration and reproductive rights will be part of the discussion.
In addition to the debate content, French said the timing of this event is also important.
“The debate is so close to the election, and it matters,” he added. “Early voting is just around the corner in North Carolina and other states. The matchup is also different this time. How does it look gender-based? If you remember, we have seen Hillary Clinton in 2016, but we haven’t seen another woman on the main presidential stage. The last time we saw Trump was in the debate with President Biden, and he performed well, but will we see that again? So, there will be emphasis on how the candidates not only respond to the moderator’s questions, but how well they do in front of the millions of people watching this debate.”
French has been featured in politics-related stories and interviews by several news organizations including WGHP Fox 8, Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Sydney, ABC News Radio Australia and CTV News, a CNN affiliate based in Toronto, Canada.
The presidential debate will air live on Tuesday, September 10 at 9:00 p.m. EDT and is hosted by ABC News.
Another important matchup is the vice presidential debate on October 1 between Democratic candidate Tim Walz. (D) Minnesota, Harris’s pick and Republican candidate JD Vance, (R) Ohio, Trump’s pick.
In person early voting in North Carolina takes place from Oct. 17 – Nov. 2. The general election will take place on Tuesday, November 5.
Note: To schedule an interview with Nate French, contact Keri Brown media@wfu.edu or 336-971-4442 or C: 336-971-5402.
