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Unexpected things can happen: Filippenko talks about the departure from tradition in the US presidential race

At this stage of the US presidential race, debates are more needed by Democratic candidate Kamala Harris than by Republican Donald Trump. But holding debates is not an obligation, but a tradition. And in the current race, participants have repeatedly deviated from tradition. This was reported on the air of the FREEDOM TV channel by political scientist and Americanist Alexandra Filippenko. After President Joe Biden dropped out of the election race, replacing him with Kamala Harris without holding primaries is also a deviation from American electoral traditions. “This is an ideal example of the amazing, abrupt turns of American politics. Since all the lawyers said that it is now impossible to change the candidate from the Democratic Party without holding primaries, that this is not in the traditions of American politics. Yes, there is no law that requires holding primaries, but it is still a tradition. And we see that this was possible, since each of the parties can, by its own decision, present one or another candidate. And this situation, of course, is another reminder that there is no predetermination in American politics, and completely unexpected things can happen before November (before the presidential elections, — ed.),” Filippenko said. The same situation is with debates — this is also not a requirement, but a tradition. “We are all used to the fact that debates are always held. Moreover, three rounds of debates [of presidential candidates] plus debates with the vice-presidential candidate. Debates are held in different formats, including with the participation of the audience, when candidates are asked questions by voters present,” the political scientist clarified. On June 27, debates took place between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. But this was also a departure from tradition. “Because these debates were held before the Democratic and Republican parties officially nominated their candidates for the elections. This is the second departure from tradition. Therefore, perhaps there will be no debates at all. There is no law in the US that requires debates,” Filippenko explained. The political scientist believes that public debates are more necessary for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris right now. “Yes, Americans know Harris, but she has never been in the spotlight the way a US presidential candidate needs to be. She has never been in first place. Now she needs to come to the fore. And one-on-one debates with Donald Trump could show her as a leader. She needs to be in the spotlight, she needs to be the face of the Democratic Party now. And, of course, she needs debates more now,” the speaker emphasized. The polls show quite encouraging numbers for Harris. “But this is mainly due to the enthusiasm of Democrats and some undecided voters who gravitate toward the Democratic Party. On Monday [July 29], The Wall Street Journal published a poll on how inspired Democrats are with their candidate. When Biden was a candidate, 37% of Democrats were inspired. Now this figure is 81%. This tells us about the honeymoon in the relationship between Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party. She has a fairly high rating, although in some other polls, Donald Trump is ahead of her. That is, we cannot relax,” Filippenko noted. Trump is less interested in the debates because his team does not know how to attack Harris. “They have not found an approach to how to attack the new candidate from the Democratic Party. Their program of action was designed to attack an unpopular 81-year-old man, as they called Biden. And now it’s a completely different story, and it is unclear how to act. Even Donald Trump, who can perfectly choose some words, has not yet found the words. Therefore, the debates are not such a profitable story for Trump. Especially since Harris has found an approach to how to attack him. She said at one of her speeches, to thunderous applause and laughter, that Trump was a bit strange, and even a little frighteningly strange, unpleasantly strange. The words “just strange” resonate with American voters. Therefore, it is unknown whether we will see debates. But, of course, Harris would have to stand on the same stage with Donald Trump,” Alexandra Filippenko summed up. Read also: The Ukrainian Armed Forces are expanding the capabilities of UAVs – a battle of technologies Earlier, Donald Trump refused to debate Kamala Harris, because “I am already leading in the polls, and everyone knows me.” At the same time, polls show that Harris is closing the gap with her opponent. For example, a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll showed that Trump no longer has a lead in the swing states: Harris is supported by 48% of voters against 47% for Trump. The post Unexpected things can happen: Filippenko talks about the departure from tradition in the US presidential race appeared first on Freedom.