WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — There is just one week to go until a debate stage showdown between the presidential candidates.
On Tuesday Sept. 10, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are scheduled to face off on ABC News. The live debate is set to happen at 9pm ET in Philadelphia, but there will not be a live audience.
The presidential candidates have been trading attacks out on the campaign trail.
“As we fight to move our nation forward, Donald Trump intends to pull us back to the past,” Harris said at an event on Labor Day.
“Kamala Harris has failed you. She has failed as vice president,” Trump told supporters at a recent rally.
At the debate, voters will get the chance to see them go after each other face to face. George Washington University political science professor Todd Belt says the stakes are high with such a competitive race.
“At this point the race looks like it’s kind of 50/50. I think both candidates have a ton to lose in this debate,” Belt said.
The last debate had huge consequences for the race and for President Joe Biden’s re-election bid.
“One debate actually cost the nominee their entire campaign. And people are wondering ‘Could this happen again?'” Belt asked.
Both candidates are looking to move the needle with voters and gain an edge on their opponent.
“Harris obviously has the momentum. Donald Trump is trying to turn it around. It’s anybody’s election and this could be a really critical event,” Belt said.
It remains to be seen whether this debate will give voters new insight into key issues and where the candidates stand on them.
“It’s up to the moderators to really hold these candidates’ feet to the fire so that they can tell people what would an America look like under their leadership,” Belt said.
Belt predicts a lot of voters won’t watch the entire debate.
“That’s why the candidates are always trying to get that good zinger or something that’s going to be repeated over and over after the debate, because that’s when most people form their opinions of actually what happened,” Belt said.
