With less than two months until election day, US presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have come face to face in a wild, personal and fiery televised debate. 

From claims of migrants eating pet dogs to fear raising about Democrats wanting to ‘execute’ babies, Donald Trump was repeatedly corrected by the moderators. 

Kamala Harris spoke about her background, directly addressed her opponent and insisted she had a plan for the future. 

At the end of it, pop superstar Taylor Swift came out in support of Kamala Harris. 

Today, Kim Hoggard, a former US government official who worked in the Reagan and George H W Bush administrations, highlights how Kamala Harris blended personal anecdotes with policy discussions. 

She notes that Harris’s ability to push Trump’s buttons led to his increasingly extreme statements.

She believes this debate could be pivotal for the election result and says Harris’s performance may have exceeded Democratic party expectations. 

Featured: 

Kim Hoggard, former US government official in Reagan and Bush administrations

Key Topics:

• US presidential debate
• Kamala Harris
• Donald Trump
• Taylor Swift endorsement
• Migrant crime claims
• Abortion debate
• Real-time fact-checking