The Presidential Debate is Tonight at 8p. Watch it Here.

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will be face to face in their first presidential debate tonight. You can watch LIVE below beginning at 8pm CST.

As we head into the intense debate, both candidates have a chance to speak directly to Black voters as they often encounter distinct challenges in the areas mentioned, but Harris has a significant opportunity in particular. The 59-year-old Democrat has received tremendous support from the community ahead of November’s election. According to a Washington Post-Ipsos poll released on Sept. 9, 82% of Black registered voters out of a sample of 1,083 are likely to vote for Harris this November. This marks an increase from the 74 % who supported Biden in April, although it still falls short of Biden’s 87% approval among Black voters recorded in the 2020 exit polls, according to the report.

Support for Harris is also growing in key demographics within the Black community. The proportion of voters who say they will “definitely” back the Democratic candidate has jumped from 48% for Biden in the spring to 68% for Harris now. Among Black voters under 30, Harris has seen a rise in support to 77%, up from 59% for Biden earlier this year. Furthermore, among Black women under 40, Harris’s backing has surged by 19 percentage points, up from 57% for Biden to 76% for Harris.

In contrast to Trump, who is widely criticized by Black voters, Harris is seen as a more favorable alternative. A significant 72% of Black voters view Trump as either a poor or terrible president, according to a Pew Research study published in May. Additionally, 65% of Black adults believe he acted unlawfully in his alleged attempts to alter the outcome of the 2020 election. This dissatisfaction with Trump highlights the potential for Harris to make a meaningful impact among Black voters. However, she will need to outline a clear and actionable plan for addressing the critical issues affecting Black communities and advancing their progress.

The ground rules that the candidates agreed upon were:

• The debate will be 90 minutes with two commercial breaks.
• The two seated moderators will be the only people asking questions. 
• A virtual coin flip was held virtually on Sept. 3rd to determine podium placements and order of closing statements; Trump won the coin toss and chose to select the order of statements. He will have the last closing statement. 
• Candidates must be introduced by the moderators. 
• The candidates enter upon introduction from opposite sides of the stage; the incumbent party will be introduced first. 
• No opening statements. 
• Candidates will stand behind podiums for their duration of the debate. 
• Props or prewritten notes are not allowed on stage. 
• Candidates will be given a pen, a pad of paper, and a bottle of water. 
• Candidates will have two minutes to answer questions, two minute rebuttals, and one extra minute for follow-up, clarifications, or responses. 
• The microphones will be live only for the candidate whose turn it is to speak and muted when the time belongs to another candidate. 
• The candidates are not allowed to ask each other questions. 
• Campaign staff may not interact with candidates during commercial breaks. 
• Moderators will seek to enforce timing agreements and ensure a civilized discussion. 
• No audience will be in the room. 

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