They had high expectations. But Monroe County Democrats lauded Kamala Harris' presidential debate performance Tuesday in what organizers say was the largest debate watch party turnout since 2008.
Several dozen people — more than organizers expected — flocked to Nick's English Hut for the Monroe County Democrats’ debate watch party. Many said Harris exceeded their hopes.
Nick’s waitstaff buzzed through the crowd of young and old; a much busier Tuesday night than normal. Soon the televisions airing the debate, which was to be relegated to the back room, spread throughout the entire bar. As it started, lively conversation shifted to light murmurs.
High expectations
Talon Hawkins, a freshman at IU studying theater and drama and political science, was there looking to get more involved with College Democrats at IU. He said he was excited to see former President Trump and Vice President Harris onstage — much more optimistic than he would have been if President Joe Biden had stayed in the race.
He watched the first debate between Trump and Biden while doing laundry. Like many Democrats, particularly younger voters, he was disappointed with Biden’s performance.
“I even watched it again with friends,” he said. “And we agreed Biden’s responses weren’t good enough.”
Some at the watch party felt apprehensive due to that debate performance. But Biden’s withdrawal and Harris’ nomination, according to multiple Monroe County Democratic officials, breathed new life into the party.
David Henry, the county party’s chair, said Tuesday night was their largest watch party crowd since 2008, the year former President Barack Obama won Indiana. There are no premonitions of Harris winning Indiana this year, barring extreme circumstances.
Still, many felt optimistic she would perform well nationwide. Bloomington Councilmember Sydney Zulich said she had high expectations, having seen her speak in person twice before.
“She knows when to hit hard, and I think she knows when to pull back,” she said before the debate started.
Zulich said she wanted Harris to bring a core tenet of her campaign to the debate stage: joy. She said she didn’t want Harris to hit Trump too hard, but rather focus on her own priorities, her own policies.
“I love Joe Biden, but this is so refreshing”
The crowd only murmured as Harris spoke, speaking at a more typical volume of a bar when it was Trump’s turn. They booed him and cheered for her — as one might expect a group of Democrats to.
But many felt immediately optimistic after the debate started.
“I love Joe Biden, but this is so refreshing,” one attendee said in the first minutes.
At three points, one could have heard a pin drop — while Harris answered questions about abortion, the Israel-Hamas war and Trump’s comments questioning her racial identity. The crowd was happy the moderators interjected at times to fact-check Trump.
Hawkins said Harris performed best while speaking on abortion. Others echoed his sentiment, with some of the loudest cheers of the night coming as Harris gave examples of how widespread abortion bans could impact victims of rape and incest.
Josh Montagne, College Democrats at IU’s financial director, said he felt the energy coming throughout the debate and thought her performance would impact many voters’ decisions.
“Look at the last debate,” he said. “That clearly influenced people’s decisions.”
At one point, Trump questioned why Harris didn’t meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his state visit in July, instead going to Zeta Phi Beta Sorority’s — one of the nation’s largest historically Black sororities — Grand Boulé in Indianapolis.
Monroe County Councilwoman Jennifer Crossley said this comment was insulting. She’s part of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the same as Harris. She said Trump dismissed the event as a simple get-together, rather than an important celebration planned well in advance.
Harris also met with Netanyahu the day after.
“For the people”
Crossley described Harris’ performance as “for the people.”
However, Zulich didn’t see Harris communicate the message of joy pervasive throughout her campaign.
“I think it’s hard to be joyful when you’re talking to someone as cruel and full of hate as the former president,” she said.
Zulich said Harris was able to turn around those issues onto herself and her own policies. The crowd applauded Harris after the debate ended. Everyone thought she did well, some thought better than expected. The debate, Zulich said, was likely taken well by independents as well as Democrats.
A CNN poll of split debate watchers found almost two-thirds of debate watchers said Harris performed better.
“She got him,” one attendee said afterward.
