Starting with a handshake, presidential debate between Harris and Trump then turns fierce, and pointed

Former President Donald Trump, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris debate on Sept. 10, 2024. AP Photo/Alex Brandon by Rodney Coates, Miami University and Lee Banville, University of Montana As the two presidential candidates entered the debate stage, Kamala Harris strode across it and offered her hand to Donald Trump to shake, setting a confident tone that didn’t flag throughout the debate. Trump, appearing to grow angrier through the night, stuck to his well-trodden themes of American decline and reminded viewers that Harris was part of the Biden administration, which he blamed for that decline. Each candidate probably won points with their supporters – whether they won over undecided voters will become clear when the ballots are counted. The Conversation U.S. asked two scholars, Miami University sociologist Rodney Coates, an expert on race, and Lee Banville, a 13-year veteran of the PBS NewsHour and now director of the School of Journalism at the University of Montana who has written a book on presidential debates, to respond to what they heard in the debate. The debate began with Kamala Harris approaching Donald Trump, introducing herself and shaking hands with him. AP Photo/Alex Brandon ‘The American people want better’ Rodney Coates, Professor...