Kamala Harris' campaign is grappling with an unexpected challenge just days before her crucial debate against former President Donald Trump. As Harris' team prepares for what promises to be a high-stakes encounter, a last-minute rule change has thrown a wrench into their meticulously crafted strategy. The rule, which will mute candidates' microphones when their opponent is speaking, has forced the Harris campaign to rewrite their debate playbook, fearing it may significantly hinder the vice president's ability to confront Trump directly.
Harris, known for her sharp prosecutorial skills honed during Senate hearings, had planned to deploy those very skills in the debate. Her strategy involved fact-checking and directly questioning Trump in real-time, potentially rattling the former president as she did with Supreme Court nominees and cabinet members during Senate hearings. However, with the introduction of the muted microphone rule, those plans are now in jeopardy.
Four Harris campaign officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed deep frustration with the new debate format, which they believe will "handcuff" Harris. "Trump's worst moments in the debates are when he gets upset and snaps," said a former aide to Harris' 2020 presidential campaign. "And they have neutered that."
The rule change was negotiated by President Joe Biden's team earlier this summer, and while some Democrats dismiss the Harris campaign's concerns as mere gamesmanship, others acknowledge that the new format could pose challenges for Harris, particularly given her limited experience in national general election debates. "She could get thrown off by [the muted mics]," noted one national Democratic strategist. "Or they've also got a set piece ready to go, where Harris could turn to the camera and say, 'For those who can't hear it, Donald Trump is trying to yell over me. How many of you have been in a meeting where you get talked over?'"
David Axelrod, a key adviser to Barack Obama's presidential campaigns, suggested that the Harris campaign's vocal opposition to the muted mic rule could serve a dual purpose-both to express genuine frustration and to "get into Trump's head." "What the [Harris] team is saying is that Trump's campaign does not trust him to control himself," Axelrod said. "I don't think Trump likes to be depicted as someone being handled, so I do think there's an element of trying to psych out their side, too."
Trump's campaign, meanwhile, has expressed satisfaction with the rule, which they argue will allow for a more substantive exchange of ideas without constant interruptions. "Americans want to hear both candidates present their competing visions to the voters, unburdened by what has been. No notes, no sitting down, no advance copies of the questions," said Jason Miller, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign.
Despite the Harris campaign's efforts to renegotiate the debate format, they ultimately conceded to the original rules set by ABC News, the debate's host. Brian Fallon, Harris' senior communications adviser, expressed disappointment in a letter to the network, arguing that the muted microphones would "shield Donald Trump from direct exchanges with the Vice President" and "fundamentally disadvantaged" Harris, a former prosecutor.
The muted microphone rule has sparked debate within Democratic circles, with some strategists arguing that it could work to Harris' advantage by preventing Trump from interrupting her. James Carville, a veteran Democratic strategist, noted that while Harris won't be able to interrupt Trump, he also won't be able to "needle her while she's speaking." Carville added, "He won't be able to do his shenanigans either. So it seems kind of like a wash to me."
In preparation for the debate, Harris is expected to participate in several 90-minute mock sessions over the next few days. Her debate preparations are being led by Karen Dunn, who coached her in 2020, and Rohini Kosoglu, her longtime policy expert and former Senate chief of staff. Philippe Reines, a former Clinton aide who has played Trump in past mock debates, will reprise his role for Harris' practice sessions.
