US Vice President Kamala Harris has gained a significant lead in three critical battleground states—Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania—against Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump. This development has led Trump to express regret over his debate with Joe Biden, remarking, “Why the hell did I debate him?” during a rally in Bozeman, Montana, on Friday.
Trump suggested that it would be “easier to beat” Harris in the upcoming 2024 Presidential Elections. He criticized Biden’s performance and accused the Democrats of undermining Biden’s campaign, stating, “You know he wanted to debate. If we didn’t have a debate, he’d still be there. Can you imagine? Why the hell did I debate him?” He added, “The guy had 14 million votes. She had none, but I’d rather run against her. I think she’s easier to beat I really do.”
The debate Trump referred to was initially the first of three scheduled between him and Biden. Following a poor performance by Biden, the Democrats pressured him to withdraw from the race, leading him to announce his decision not to seek re-election on July 21. Biden endorsed Harris, who subsequently became the Democratic candidate.
Trump’s recent public appearances have been less frequent, with his Montana rally being only the second he has held in August. In contrast, Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, have been actively campaigning across several states, including rallies in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Arizona, with another planned for Nevada on Saturday.
In a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump explained that his reduced number of public events was due to his strong polling position. However, new polls from The New York Times/Siena College, released on Saturday morning, show Harris leading by 4 points in the three crucial battleground states. Trump also mentioned his intention to wait until the Democratic National Convention concludes on August 22 before increasing his campaign activities, noting that he has been focusing on radio and television interviews.
