Vice President Harris and former President Trump are preparing for one of the biggest moments in this year’s election campaign — their first, and perhaps only, TV debate.

The clash will take place in Philadelphia on Tuesday, hosted by ABC News and moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis.

The debate could be pivotal in a race that remains extremely close.

In the polling averages maintained by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ), Harris is leading by almost four points. But the polling margins in the seven battleground states that are likely to decide the election are much tighter.

DDHQ estimates that Harris currently has a 55 percent chance of prevailing in November.

The last presidential debate between Trump and President Biden on June 27 led to Biden’s exit from the race. While this debate is unlikely to have such dramatic repercussions, the stakes could hardly be higher.

Here are three key objectives for both candidates.

Vice President Harris

Avoid big gaffes

Harris enters the debate with the wind at her back.

She has enjoyed an unusually long honeymoon period since Biden dropped out.

She has risen in the polls amid a wave of Democratic enthusiasm, been celebrated at a successful convention and has seen her campaign war-chest swell.

On Friday, her campaign and its affiliates announced they had raised $361 million in August and had $404 million cash-on-hand as they move toward Election Day. The cash-on-hand figure was more than $100 million higher than Team Trump’s $295 million.

For Harris, the top objective for the debate is to avoid any moment that would put an abrupt end to her momentum — a gaffe, a misstatement or a clash with Trump that works to her disadvantage.

Such moments are inherently........

© The Hill