2 months until election, Harris and Trump prepare to debate

Voters have just two months to make their choice between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump. But in less than a week, the two candidates will meet on the debate stage. Laura Barrón-López has the latest from the campaign trail.

Aired: 09/05/24

How to Watch the PBS News Special: ABC Presidential Debate Simulcast

On Tuesday, September 10 from 9-11 p.m., PBS will provide live coverage and analysis of the debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. The broadcast will begin with a live simulcast of the debate, followed immediately by PBS News special coverage co-anchored by Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett. White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López and Capitol Hill correspondent Lisa Desjardins will report, and guests will provide expert analysis.

PBS News will livestream on its PBS News YouTube channel.

While this is the second presidential debate of 2024, the first was between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, before President Biden withdrew from the race.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday October 1 from 9 – 11 p.m., when PBS will provide live coverage and analysis of the vice presidential debate between Governor Tim Walz and Senator JD Vance. This PBS News Special will be a simulcast CBS Vice Presidential Debate.

TRANSCRIPT

AMNA NAWAZ: Turning now to the presidential campaign, voters have just two months to make their choice between Vice President Harris and former President Trump.

And in less than a week, the two will meet on the debate stage.

Laura Barron-Lopez has the latest.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: The Harris/Walz campaign is pushing through the Keystone State this week.

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman welcomed Vice President Kamala Harris on the tarmac in Pittsburgh this afternoon, where she will stay until next week's presidential debate in Philadelphia.

Harris' running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, barnstormed through Lancaster and Pittsburgh Wednesday, before arriving in Erie, Pennsylvania this afternoon.

TIM WALZ, (D) Vice Presidential Nominee: Look, it's not hyperbole.

This election will go right through Erie, Pennsylvania.

That is what is going to happen.

We know this is a bellwether country.

We know the work you're doing here will make a difference.

And we know this will be a tight race.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump was in his hometown to speak to the Economic Club of New York.

DONALD TRUMP, Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate: We have to take care of our own nation and our industries first.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: He boasted about his administration's economic policies and, without evidence, blamed undocumented migrants for taking jobs from Black and Hispanic Americans.

DONALD TRUMP: African Americans and Hispanic American jobs are under massive threat from the invasion taking place at our border.

They're taking the jobs of Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and nobody talks about it.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: In a FOX News town hall last night, Trump compared himself to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been criticized for authoritarian and antidemocratic policies.

DONALD TRUMP: That was the question they asked Viktor Orban, really a very -- considered a very strong -- they said he's a strongman.

Sometimes, you need a strongman.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Multiple former Trump officials and some fellow Republicans have warned Trump will model a second presidency after other strongman leaders like Orban, Russian President Vladimir Putin, or China's Xi Jinping.

FMR.

REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): ... has said he will ignore the rulings of the courts.

He won't leave office.

He's a risk that we simply can't take.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: At a Duke University event last night, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney said the threat of another Trump administration means Republican voters can't sit out or vote third party.

FMR.

REP. LIZ CHENEY: Because of the danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris in this election.

(CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Cheney joins other Republicans who have gone against their party's candidate, including her fellow January 6 House committee member former Representative Adam Kinzinger.

Harris will soon have a chance to face Trump herself in the upcoming presidential debate.

KAMALA HARRIS, Vice President of the United States (D) and U.S. Presidential Candidate: If you have got something to say... (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) KAMALA HARRIS: ... say it to my face.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Both have agreed to the ground rules, including muted mics when it's not a candidate's turn to speak.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Laura Barron-Lopez.