I feel this face-off between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris tomorrow is shaping up to be more about showmanship than substance, and it's a dynamic that genuinely concerns me regarding the state of our political discourse.
Let's face it, Trump is a showstopper. He has been to this particular rodeo before, and word on the street is that he's focusing on "fine-tuning the theatrics" rather than brushing up on policy. That proves a PR-savvy move on his part, as these debates are often won based on memorable one-liners and stage presence rather than well-thought-out policy proposals.
We have Kamala Harris, on the other hand, who is new to these presidential debate stages. She has been hitting the books hard, delving deep into policy, but will that be sufficient when pitted against the array of performance skills that the now-seasoned Trump displays?
My bet is not.
The Harris team is trying to level the playing field, attempting to stage the debate environment and even having someone play Trump in mock debates. But valiant as that effort may be, I'm not so sure you can fully prepare for the unpredictability of Donald Trump. I doubt it.
What has been on my mind lately is that recent poll showing so many voters simply don't think they know enough about Harris. For her, this debate represents perhaps the best opportunity to introduce herself to the American people, but with Trump's big personality, I don't know if she can manage to cut through and make an impression.
I am most interested in how the use of trigger words may affect Trump's psyche. "Old" and "small" are two of those words that could work. But with the muted mics this time, we won't get to hear as many of those characteristic Trump interruptions that mark the debates.
The real question at the end of the day is whether this debate is going to be of any use to the voters in making an informed decision. Are we going to find out anything about either candidate's plan for the country, or is this going to turn into just another episode in the ongoing political reality show that our elections have become?
What do you think?