In Philadelphia, the cradle of American democracy, residents were eagerly waiting Tuesday for the first — and possibly only — debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
The streets teemed with political ads and Harris’s campaign was set to fly a drone show over downtown.
Security fences were erected around the National Constitution Center, which was hosting the showdown and which commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence some 250 ago.
“I want to see them really get down” to details, retiree Jonathan Nidock, 72, said of the two candidates.
Dressed in the colors of the American flag, former teacher Rashida Jones sat on a camping chair near the center holding a sign reading “No Haters welcome” as police and journalists milled nearby.
“I wanted to come out and protest the person that’s running… for the highest office in the United States of America,” Jones said of former president and Republican candidate Trump. “I feel as though he’s been a divider.”
“I’m glad they chose Philadelphia because we want to continue to advance democracy,” added Jones, 68, pointing to Independence Hall, where the original US Constitution was signed in 1787.
“Where else would you go in America? America started here.”
– ‘Open minded’
Nidock, who sipped apple juice in a bar nearby, said picking Philadelphia, which also briefly served as the US capital, was symbolic.
Nidock was planning to be in front of a television at 9:00 pm sharp to hear Harris and Trump.
Nidock wanted to know “what they plan to do about strengthening the economy, their take on international affairs and politics.”
“I’m trying to be open minded…. I’m not leaning one way or the other,” Nidock added.
Nearby, Molly Bevanour, a 23-year-old nurse, proudly declared that she was “pro-Kamala.”
Bevanour said that to her and her friends the most crucial topics they will be listening for in the debate are access to abortion, climate change, the treatment of minorities, women and LGBTQ people.
Bevanour called Harris “very well spoken and a great debater,” but she was especially enthusiastic about seeing her debate in a key state like Pennsylvania.
Widely considered the most important of the presidential swing states, Pennsylvania voted for Trump in 2016 before supporting Biden in 2020.
“It’s important that Kamala is getting down and dirty in Pennsylvania, just doing and putting in the work,” Bevanour said.
