Editorial: Voters decide who won the debate

How do presidential candidates prepare for a debate?

Former president and GOP nominee Donald Trump’s team claimed he didn’t do formal debate prep, but reports also say he sharpened his question-and-answer technique with the help of supporters such as Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard.

Vice President Kamala Harris hunkered down at the Omni William Penn hotel for several days of debate prep in Pittsburgh before moving to the other side of the state for Tuesday’s showdown at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

The event was light years away from the June debate between Trump and President Joe Biden, whose shaky performance led to an exit from the race in favor of Harris three weeks later.

Harris had very much the same presence she had during her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention last month. She focused on voters and their needs and wants. She added in the policies her campaign has been developing since her unexpected rise to the top of the ticket.

Trump was the same person his followers have embraced and his detractors decried since the beginning of his political journey in 2015. He touted his “Make America Great Again” tagline, took jabs at Harris and Biden and was passionate about how the nation is in decline with himself as its best hope for recovery.

While many pundits and columnists from across the political spectrum placed the win in Harris’ column, it wasn’t universal. Social media is thick with people who saw Trump as the victor.

Let’s be honest. Anyone who expected the day after the debate to be any different than the day before hasn’t been paying attention. The only person who seems to have made a decision after the debate was Taylor Swift. The Pennsylvania-born billionaire entertainer endorsed Harris on Instagram shortly after the event ended.

The debate was a performance — a display of type and temperament that shows voters what they might get from their would-be president.

What might be the most interesting aspect is the ratings. A total of 68 million people watched the face-off, up 28% from the June event. The highest viewership came from the Pittsburgh market, narrowly edging out Philadelphia.

That speaks to the importance of Pennsylvania voters in this election. It also speaks to how engaged Pennsylvania voters are in the process, actually seeking out information rather than being force fed.

The most important preparation for this election isn’t what the candidates do before the debate. It’s what the people do afterward. Vet what was said. Read information from reputable sources. Investigate both candidates rather than just expressing skepticism toward one side. Be prepared to accept new information.

A prepared voter makes all the difference in a tight race.