“Harris should have spent more time attacking Trump’s record as president — the factories didn’t really come back as people hoped — and suggesting that his current promises were more fantasy. “

Again, I don’t think people doing it tough are going to be swayed by facts and figures. I think the Democrats were right to target feelings and present a path out of the present with optimism. MAGA voters simply don’t take any notice of facts and figures and swing voters doing it tough are stressed right now and angry – the Biden administration is likely who they are directing their anger at, I don’t believe throwing facts and figures would work with these folk at this time.

“The crucial thing Harris didn’t do was demolish Trump on his record with the economy. That would not have been easy either.”

There is no way she’d convince any of Trump’s supporters that Biden/Harris have done a better job on the economy. I think it is extremely unlikely anyone would convince the swing voter’s either. Unfairly, no amount of explaining that inflation was a consequence of covid crippling supply chains and the war in Ukraine, would convince those doing it hard in the US that it wasn’t the fault of the Biden administration – we can all see it from the outside looking in, but those experiencing it simply don’t see it.

It appeared that the Democrats chose a strategy of look to the future with optimism instead – which I thought she did well – trying in vain to prosecute the argument they have done a better job than Trump would’ve is hypothetical and as I said, unlikely to succeed, imo.

“Trump was at his worst, and by that I mean not ethically but performatively.” I’m not privy to what the MAGA crew were expecting, but I suspect they got what they wanted to see:

• loads of demonization of immigrants
• accusations of responsibility for the deaths of US soldiers in Afghanistan
• loads and loads of the Biden administration destroying the economy accusations
• accusations that the Biden administration is the threat to democracy
• loads and loads of accusations that the Biden administration is responsible for the wars
• loads of calling Harris weak
• questioning her race
• most importantly he appeared sharp, disciplined and focused; not a rambling old weirdo as far as MAGA would be concerned.

To my mind these serve to reinforce their beliefs, and all Trump had to do was deliver them competently, not like Biden was incapable of doing in the last debate. I doubt very much that MAGA supporters are going to find conspiracy theories about immigrants eating people’s pets was outrageous, on the contrary I suspect they’d mistakenly see it as Trump saying the things others are afraid to say, and swallow it hook, line and sinker.

Depends on the progressive, I guess. Progressives who are comfortable and secure under US capitalism will have no hesitation voting for Harris. Progressives who aren’t are likely to declare a pox on both their houses.

As ever it will be a turn out election rather than an election of ideas. The impact of the Swift intervention will be interesting to see. But the character, policies and history of Harris or Trump apart, I cannot see America electing a female President. Won’t happen

Loved, btw, her comment that Putin would “ eat you ( ie Trump) for lunch”.

Harris doesn’t have to, she just has to win the swing states and their colleges. Pennsylvania will be crucial. Perhaps Michigan and Georgia too. However, everything I’m reading post -debate says Harris has improved her chances already in Pennsylvania, the site of the clash. That is huge for her.
Rundle is down-playing her performance. She made Trump look flustered and rambling, the chaotic con-man which many voters are over, even if the voted for him in the past. Same old schtick, which appeals to his hard-core base but leaves others nonplussed.
Harris does not claim to be revolutionary, she intends to introduce a budget which will help in some ways “ level up”, as the Brits put it. And the US economy is looking OK right now, under Biden. It’s not in an inflationary spiral and key economists are happy with Harris’ intentions, as she said.
If I were an American I would vote for someone who does not intend to disrupt democracy, nor provoke international unrest, probably just short of WWIII. She landed a great point re Trump’s admiration of Putin and what that meant for Ukraine and Poland. You can bet Polish Americans (many in Pennsylvania) heard her loud and clear.
Women have also heard her and her support for reproductive rights.
Harris is doing rather well. Donny is looking tired and past it. Let’s just hope enough voters decide to make him history.

Yep. Just another lesser evil election for way too many Americans, sadly. To many, it probably feels like a coin toss- heads, they win; tails, I lose.

PS: to give a backyard example, I’m sure you’ve heard the bile Dutton and his LNP have been spewing for awhile now, yet the polls show the LNP and ALP are sitting at 50/50 2PP and most blame all the interest rate rises on Albanese.