Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are scheduled to participate in their inaugural presidential debate on September 10, 2024.
Nate French, a political communications expert at Wake Forest University, is poised to provide insights into the significance of the debate’s timing and its potential impact on the upcoming White House campaign.
French, who specializes in North Carolina politics and the 2024 presidential election, will offer pre-and post-debate analyses, focusing on key issues likely to resonate with voters, and evaluating the candidates’ performances during their televised confrontation.
He emphasizes the importance of both verbal and nonverbal communication in the debate. “This debate will center on who appears more presidential and who effectively conveys their capability as commander in chief,” French noted. “The question is whether they can sway undecided voters or solidify their base, and which candidate successfully gets their message across.”
Major topics anticipated for discussion include the economy, immigration, and reproductive rights.
Moreover, French highlighted the critical timing of the event. “The proximity of this debate to the election is significant,” he remarked. “With early voting imminent in North Carolina and other states, the dynamics are different this time around. We’ve previously seen Hillary Clinton in 2016 as a female candidate on the primary stage, but this marks a different scenario with Trump and Harris. Trump last debated President Biden, where he performed well, but the question remains if we’ll witness that again. Therefore, attention will be paid not just to their responses to the moderator, but also to how they engage with the millions watching.”
French has contributed to various media outlets regarding political matters, including WGHP Fox 8, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC News Radio Australia, and CTV News in Toronto.
The presidential debate is set to air live on Tuesday, September 10, at 9:00 p.m. EDT, hosted by ABC News.
Following this, a crucial vice presidential debate will occur on October 1, featuring Democratic candidate Tim Walz from Minnesota, chosen by Harris, and Republican candidate JD Vance from Ohio, selected by Trump.
In-person early voting in North Carolina will run from October 17 to November 2, leading up to the general election on Tuesday, November 5.
For interviews with Nate French, contact Keri Brown at media@wfu.edu or call 336-971-4442 or 336-971-5402.