Yesterday, during the presidential debate, Wisconsinites gathered at more than 300 debate watch parties hosted by the Harris-Walz campaign and Wisconsin Democrats across the Badger State to watch Vice President Kamala Harris take on Donald Trump during the debate, including in La Crosse, where local supporters were joined by Mrs. Gwen Walz.
Last night, Wisconsinites saw exactly what kind of president Kamala Harris will be: one who offers a New Way Forward for the country, who will be a president for all Americans, and who will turn the page once and for all on the darkness and division of Donald Trump. She reminded the American people that she is the only candidate in this race ready to serve as our next Commander-in-Chief.
And in case you missed it through the countless lies he rattled off on stage tonight, Trump offered zero plan for the everyday needs of Americans, saying only he had “concepts” of a plan. That’s because the only actual plan Trump has is Project 2025, which will strip freedoms, raise costs for the middle class, and take America backwards.
See coverage below:
On the airwaves:
Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz: “That’s how we solve problems. One person at a time. You think individually about the value of people. We work together. I want you to know, that’s how we see our partnership, and that’s how we see you. And that’s how we see solving problems.”
Reporter: “She continued on talking about reproductive freedoms, Project 2025, gun violence, and the importance of everyone getting out to vote this November.”
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler: “[Vice President Kamala Harris has a] forward facing vision about a New Way Forward, instead of the stale, old schtick that Donald Trump has been running on for the last 8 years. Vice President Harris is running on a platform called a New Way Forward. This is a race about the future. And Vice President Harris can draw from her experience as Vice President, as Attorney General, as Senator, as a prosecutor.”
Reporter: “Our state is a critical swing state on the road to the White House for both presidential candidates. We visited two debate night watch parties last night in Green Bay to get a sense of how voters from each party were feeling about that debate. At the Brown County Democratic Party headquarters, local Democratic voters say that Harris effectively prosecuted the case against Donald Trump, laying out her policy proposals while contrasting her vision for America with that of the former president.”
Milwaukee Voter Valeria Hairston: “I think that Kamala Harris is holding her own. She is well knowledgeable about all the facts. I think Donald Trump is a loose cannon.”
Superior Volunteer Penny Graskey: “I’m excited. Obviously, it’s a nervous time, but I believe in Kamala so much. I think she’s a strong debater, especially being a prosecutor. And I really think she’s going to do well.”
Online:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A bipartisan group broke bread at a Wisconsin debate watch party. Here’s what they heard.
[Alison Dirr, Laura Schulte, Nadia Scharf, 9/10/24]
[…] Ryan Solsten, 31, of Madison said that while Harris sounded clear and concise, Trump was rambling and incoherent.
“He doesn’t sound like he has a grasp on anything other than this world that he’s living in, that’s so detached from what me and my friends and family live every day,” he said.
[…] Taylor Kirby, 30, of Madison, said Harris held her own against the personal attacks leveled by Trump.
After watching the debate, she’s hoping people who have been hesitant to vote consider the stakes of the election and cast their ballot. […]
Lisa Pardon, 67, of Middleton, felt Harris took command of the debate when the issue of reproductive rights was raised, but she still has worries about November.
“I’m feeling confident that she’s the most competent person out there[…] but I do feel very strongly that she will do well.”
WFRV: Northeast Wisconsinites react to presidential debate
[Paul Steeno, 9/11/24]
[…] Local Five News was at the Democratic Party of Brown County’s headquarters for that debate as well and observed that the mood on Tuesday night was much livelier than the one earlier in the summer when Biden was the one on the stage debating Trump.
Democratic voters say they’re feeling much more confident now after watching Harris lay out her vision for America on the debate stage.
“(I like) the policies she’s standing for, what’s good for average Americans, voting for what the laws of the country are,” said LeDuc.
“(She has a) forward-facing vision about a new way forward instead of the stale old shtick that Donald Trump has been running on for the last eight years,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Ben Wikler.
NBC26: Green Bay Democrats, Republicans react to Presidential Debate
[Noah Cornelius, 9/10/24]
It was a night the country had been waiting for: the highly anticipated first debate between Vice President Harris and former President Trump.
In Wisconsin, poll margins are razor-thin as both candidates and their parties try to gain the upper hand. The debate was all the more important here.
Ben Wikler, chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, said Vice President Harris out-shined Trump in the debate.
“I don’t know if Trump is going to want to participate in future debates after tonight. Having 90 minutes where the nation’s attention is focused on this and everything that comes out of it, with viral moments that could travel for the next several months—it could be a pivotal moment,” Wikler commented.
WISN: Wisconsin voters respond to presidential debate
[Erica Finke & Kendall Keys, 9/10/24]
The first and potentially only presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is in the history books.
WISN 12 News had crews at two debate watch parties in Milwaukee County, each with a very different reaction.
At No Studios in Milwaukee, Kendall Keys spoke with voters who said they planned to vote for Harris.
“I think that Kamala Harris is holding her own. She is well knowledgeable about all of the facts. I think Donald Trump is a loose cannon,” Valeria Hariston said.
“Donald Trump, I don’t think he did too good. Ms. Harris, I think she did OK. I liked it,” Tavares Oliver said.
TMJ4: Local Republican and Democrat voters react to Trump-Harris presidential debate
[Megan Lee, Mike Beiermeister, 9/10/24]
[…] Meanwhile, at least a dozen organizations held a debate watch party Tuesday at Nō Studios in downtown Milwaukee. […]
Jordan Roman, area director for Boys & Girls Clubs, was interested in the topic of the economy.
“I think it was good. I think one candidate clearly shows that they are about the rich and making sure that tax breaks are ready for them. I think the other candidate, the Vice President, is absolutely making an economic agenda for the community, for regular people who need such things as housing,” Roman said.
