I am a supporter of Donald Trump. I am also tethered to reality, and the truth is that Trump had a bad debate night.
The problem, which should be familiar to all by now, is Trump’s hubris and lack of focus and self-discipline. Thus Kamala Harris spent a week in intense debate preparation, Trump (reportedly) spent no time in mock debates and instead focused largely on MAGA rallies, speaking to crowds of adoring fans who were already in his camp.
The result was that Harris, a woman of limited intellect and rhetorical skills, raised her game enormously. Her advisors had carefully prepared a game plan based on calculated, scripted statements, non-answers and ripostes and she kept to it relentlessly. Every time she cast a line into the water Trump rose to the bait.
Every time a tough question or issue came up, she slithered around it and pivoted to a programmed response.
Harris looked calm and composed and employed a full range of facial expressions. Trump, by contrast, looked angry the whole evening.
Despite the obvious and disgraceful bias of the two ABC moderators, there were opportunities galore for Trump to seize and he largely failed to do so.
The objective conditions in the country — the sputtering economy, national security failures, border chaos, etc., favored Trump, but he allowed a woman representing one of the most disastrous administrations in American history to prevail.
But enough caterwauling. What now?
Well, the Harris campaign claims they want another debate. Hopefully that will happen.
Donald Trump was better in the second debate in 2020 than he was in the first. He should grab the opportunity if it arises.
My guess, though, is that Harris will pocket her win and ride off on a new wave of media adulation.
One suggestion I would make to the Trump team is that they schedule fewer rallies and more town halls. Real town halls with Q&A time limits in which he is asked specific policy questions and is forced to give succinct responses, and contrast his policy positions with those of Harris.
If he is offered town hall opportunities by the "mainstream" networks, take them.
His willingness to engage in real give and take in hostile environments will contrast well with Harris, who is not going to expose herself to potential policy minefields.
Second, Nikki Haley has said that she is standing by to help. Take her up on the offer and deploy her heavily in suburban areas where she can make the case for Trump and against Harris to undecided voters with whom she is popular.
Third, buy time on the major networks and leading websites and give a well-written, concise policy speech in a "presidential " setting, complete with a large desk, flags, family photos, the whole bit, where Trump can calmly and systematically walk through his administration's achievements, contrast them with the Harris-Biden record and lay out a positive vision for the country.
The hill to the White House just got steeper for Trump, but a lot can change in the seven weeks leading up to the election.
Can Trump make the changes required to right the ship? Maybe.
He hates the hard work required to focus on a game plan, policy issues and rhetorical discipline, but he hates losing more.
The writer is Executive Chairman of the Radio America Network.
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