Kamala Harris will bring her message of joy directly to Donald Trump during a debate that experts say is shaping up to be a critical moment ahead of the November U.S. election.

B次元官网网址淭his is perhaps the only time U.S. voters will see Kamala Harris and Donald Trump interact directly on stage together,B次元官网网址� said Allison Prasch, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin.

B次元官网网址淚 think this is possibly the most consequential 90 minutes of this entire election season.B次元官网网址�

The pair will meet onstage in Philadelphia in the second presidential debate of the campaign. It caps a tumultuous summer for both parties, which saw the attempted assassination of the former president, the complete reconfiguration of the Democratic ticket and struggles among Republicans to respond to their new opponent.

The first presidential debate in June was a pivotal moment for Democrats. Trump easily held his own against a jolting and incoherent President Joe Biden.

The debate accelerated a cascade of concerns over the presidentB次元官网网址檚 mental acuity and ability to win the election, and led Biden to remove himself from the race.

TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 faceoff could eclipse JuneB次元官网网址檚 debate as a defining moment of the election.

B次元官网网址淚t is quite literally the visual and discursive moment where there two choices are side-by-side,B次元官网网址� said Prasch, an expert on U.S. presidential rhetoric.

The stakes are extremely high in the tight race. Harris has been seen polls slightly swing in her favour in some important battleground states as she rides a wave of enthusiasm and excitement since taking the helm of the Democratic ticket. But margins in Pennsylvania, where the debate is happening, remain razor thin.

Matthew Lebo, a specialist in U.S. politics at Western University in London, Ont., said the state is the raceB次元官网网址檚 biggest battle.

While Philadelphia is generally a Democratic stronghold, Pennsylvania has turned into a battleground state that could be crucial to win the presidency. Trump took it in 2016 before it swung back to Biden in 2020 B次元官网网址� both by narrow margins.

TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 matchup will put HarrisB次元官网网址檚 skills to the test with fewer than 60 days until the election. She will have to reach out to voters and layout her campaignB次元官网网址檚 policies while holding TrumpB次元官网网址檚 attacks at bay.

The vice-president is expected to rely on her background as a prosecutor while still leaning into the feelings of hope and joy her campaign has embraced since BidenB次元官网网址檚 departure.

Prasch said a successful debate for Harris would also involve clear communication about her policy approaches to the economy, Israel and the war in Gaza, and B次元官网网址渒itchen-table issuesB次元官网网址� affecting everyday citizens.

Canadians are likely listening for plans around international trade. Whoever wins the election will be in power during the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico trade pact in 2026.

Many expect Harris will follow the path of her predecessor on Canada-U.S. relations. Harris, however, was one of 10 U.S. senators to vote against the trilateral agreement under Trump, saying it didnB次元官网网址檛 do enough to protect American workers or the environment.

Trump has floated ideas that would disrupt global trade and has already signalled plans for a 10 per cent tariff on imports.

Lebo said he doesnB次元官网网址檛 expect to gain much insight into CanadiansB次元官网网址� questions Tuesday.

TrumpB次元官网网址檚 greatest challenge will be staying on message and away from comments that could come across as misogynistic or racist, he said.

In the final moments of the third presidential debate in 2016, Trump memorably called Hillary Clinton B次元官网网址渁 nasty woman.B次元官网网址� Facing off against Harris, who has proved a difficult opponent for Trump so far, Lebo said the presidentB次元官网网址檚 comments could veer into similar territory.

B次元官网网址淗e goes off script,B次元官网网址� Lebo said. B次元官网网址淲hen heB次元官网网址檚 on stage with Harris, and sheB次元官网网址檚 going to have some very good answers, sheB次元官网网址檚 not going to give the respect he thinks he deserves B次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 know if he will be able to contain himself.B次元官网网址�

Ahead of the debate, Trump has criticized both the format and ABC B次元官网网址 moderators, claiming he will not be treated fairly. He said on social media that B次元官网网址渘o boxes or artificial lifts will be allowed to stand onB次元官网网址� during the debate.

B次元官网网址淚t would be a form of cheating, and the Democrats cheat enough,B次元官网网址� Trump said Saturday.

Lebo said that rhetoric may work well among TrumpB次元官网网址檚 base of supporters but it wonB次元官网网址檛 get him elected.

B次元官网网址淗e needs more than his base.B次元官网网址�