Harris to have a shorter debate podium than Trump's
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Harris speaks to union workers in Michigan last week. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Vice President Harris will have a shorter podium than Donald Trump during Tuesday night's debate, a person familiar with the matter told Axios and ABC News video revealed.
Why it matters: Harris and Trump have one of the biggest height differences among presidential nominees in U.S. history, and Harris' team is wary of her appearing small in comparison to Trump.
- The different podium sizes will allow both candidates to look closer to the same stature in a split screen during the debate.
Driving the news: "This is normal and both campaigns were given visibility about the different podium sizes," a person familiar with the matter told Axios.
- A Trump campaign official mocked Harris for using a smaller podium, telling Axios that "it looks like the kids' table at Thanksgiving."
- Harris' campaign did not respond to a request for comment. ABC News declined to comment.
By the numbers: Trump says he's 6 foot 3; Harris says she's 5 foot 4.
- Allies close to both candidates told Axios there may be a little height inflation by each of them.
- Trump's doctors have listed him at 6 foot 3, but his New York driver's license issued in 2012 listed him at 6 foot 2.
- One person involved with the Harris campaign told Axios: "She's a small person. I think she's shorter than 5 foot 4."
- Harris told Katie Couric earlier this year that she's just over 5 foot 4 and "with heels, which I always wear, I'm 5 foot 7 and a half, thank you very much."
Flashback: Other presidential candidates have been worried about looking small in debates compared to their taller opponents.
- In 1988, former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis (5 foot 9) was worried about his stature against then-Vice President George H.W. Bush, who was 6 foot 2.
- Dukakis requested a boost, recalled Frank Fahrenkopf, co-chair of the Commission on Presidential Debates.
- "We built something like a pitcher's mound behind Dukakis' podium for him to step on," he told Axios. Dukakis did not respond to a request for comment.
- James Madison is considered to be the shortest president in U.S. history at about 5 foot 4.
