Staff Reports
Polling expert Frank Luntz has made a bold prediction that every American who values a well-thought-out debate has been holding their breath for: Kamala Harris is likely to bomb in the upcoming debate. Speculation is already swirling about whether she will even bother to show up, especially after her lackluster performance in a recent CNN interview. The stakes are high, as she prepares to face off against former President Donald Trump on September 10.
Luntz didn’t mince words when analyzing Harris’s interview. His evaluation likened her responses to a convention speech—more flashy rhetoric than substantive policy. He criticized her failure to provide clear, actionable plans, especially her inaugural day ambitions. Harris needed a detailed roadmap for her first hour, first day, first week, and beyond. Instead, she offered veiled generalizations and the obligatory talking points that sound good but do little to assure voters of her seriousness about the job.
The polling guru also pointed out her glaring omission of solutions to rising costs across the board—food, fuel, housing, and healthcare—those pesky everyday issues that voters are actually concerned about. Instead of tackling these critical matters, Harris wasted precious time defending her repeatedly shifting values. Luntz highlighted how she should’ve used the opportunity to draw a contrast between her vision and Trump’s track record—after all, not delivering on promises is what voters visibly remember.
Top Pollster Predicts Kamala Harris Will Lose the Debate https://t.co/1gwpNttixs
— Lois Levine Fishman (@FishmanLevine) September 2, 2024
While some may say Harris’s charm and personality are her strong suits, Luntz doesn’t score her any bonus points for style over substance. The reality is that when the two candidates stand side by side, personality isn’t going to save her if she doesn’t come prepared to engage with Trump’s policies, which have a proven impact on American lives. Luntz wasn’t shy about his belief that voters will be comparing the two candidates directly, and Harris’s failure to prioritize the electorate’s pressing concerns might come back to haunt her.
Ultimately, it seems Luntz is serving up a reality check for Harris and her followers. He believes this upcoming debate is an opportunity for Trump to shine, focusing on pressing issues while not stooping to personal attacks. Harris has one chance to show voters she’s not just another ineffective politician making hollow promises. If she continues down the path of misplaced priorities, she’s in for a world of hurt—not just in the debate, but at the polls. A “C” rating from Frank Luntz is simply not going to cut it in a world where voters crave clear answers and actionable plans.
