What's Tony Thinking

Was there a knock-out moment? Harris came close when pummeling Trump on his contempt for law and January 6. She also had a series of solid punches when she traced Trump’s history of racism as a landlord, to birther-ism, to Charlottesville.

But, overall, it was a ten-rounder that went the distance with a decisive, if technical, win for Harris.

Look at Trump’s expressions. Most of the time he had on the face that he wore in the New York courtroom this spring. Defiant to be sure, but so very dark, so very menacing. Are the American people up for four more years of defiance, darkness and menace? Are the American people up for “American is in decline, terrible decline”?

The answer will be rendered in November, but my guess is “no.”

Harris says, “Let’s move on.” Not from Biden-nomics, but from the nastiness and vitriol. Is she right? Are we ready to move on. Again, the answer will be rendered in November. But my guess is yes. Trump’s “sell-by” date has passed.

If what Trump needed to do was to wrap Harris in Joe Biden, inflation and Afghanistan . . . well, he tried. But didn’t get a knockdown. Not sure he even got her on the ropes.

If what Harris needed to do was to stand her ground against a bully and show him to be one, she accomplished that, with Trump’s help.

Bottom line: he was on the defensive most of the night. When he was on offense, it was all hyberbole about “worst,” “decline” and “I did this and I did that,” which sounded more plaintive than persuasive.

Now the big question: Will it make a difference?

Hard to say, since we seem so locked into where we are.

But, a cautious “yes.” Harris helped herself. I wish she hadn’t had a spasm of Elizabeth Warren-esque, “I have a plan-ism” toward the end. But Trump hurt himself seeming defensive, petulant and happy to trumpet b.s. about immigrants in Ohio eating people’s pets.