Donald Trump's campaign publicly declared victory following his debate with Kamala Harris on Tuesday night. However, several aides within his team privately expressed doubts about the effectiveness of his performance in swaying undecided voters. According to sources familiar with the situation, one Trump aide remarked, “Will tonight benefit us? No, it will not.” This sentiment reflects a broader skepticism among some campaign staff regarding the debate's impact on voter sentiment.

In a heated debate, Kamala Harris effectively put Donald Trump on the defensive, as the two US presidential hopefuls clashed over critical issues such as abortion rights, immigration, foreign policy, and the economy. Harris, the vice president, entered the debate with a recent surge in momentum, although polls indicated that the race was tightly contested, both nationally and in key battleground states. Given the distribution of voters, which tends to favor Republicans in the electoral college, and the typical fading of post-convention boosts, analysts like Nate Silver have suggested that Trump is currently favored to win. Despite the challenges, Harris's performance in the debate was strong enough to potentially shift the odds in her favor. Trump's strategy appeared to focus on linking Harris to the unpopular policies of the Biden administration. However, he often veered into lengthy and extreme MAGA rhetoric, which may have left many voters confused. Overall, while many candidates have claimed debate victories only to lose the election, Harris's strong showing could have significant implications for the race ahead.