GOP lawmakers say Trump debate performance fell short
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GOP lawmakers said they felt former President Trump's debate performance lacked focus, arguing he "took the bait" and missed opportunities to hit Vice President Harris on key issue areas during their first debate on Tuesday.
Why it matters: Republicans had hoped that Trump would focus on policy and steer away from personal attacks and conspiratorial rhetoric as they seek to cast Harris as too liberal to be president.
- But congressional Republicans told Axios that Harris appeared to get under Trump's skin, leading him to repeatedly veer off message.
- Some were dismayed that Trump, in discussing immigration, mentioned an unsubstantiated claim on conservative social media that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating residents' pets.
- "Kirk, Catturd, Gunther, and DC Draino got Trump to go after cats on his single best issue," one GOP lawmaker told Axios. "Either we are going to figure this sh*t out or we are going to lose."
What they're saying: Some GOP lawmakers accused the moderators — ABC's David Muir and Linsey Davis — of unfairly fact-checking Trump and giving Harris a pass, but acknowledged that Trump missed opportunities to hit Harris on her record.
- "He has taken the bait more than he should," one lawmaker said.
- "He is all over the map and has missed opportunities to hammer her record He's made strong points on the economy, immigration, and foreign policy, but it's been disjointed at times," another Republican said.
The big picture: While Democrats are lauding Harris' debate performance as an overwhelming victory, GOP lawmakers said they don't see it as a make-or-break moment like it was for President Biden during his poor debate in June that led him to drop his to his re-election bid.
- "I think Trump is doing great and is in complete control," one Trump ally said.
