ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Kamala Harris will go head-to-head with Donald Trump on Tuesday, Sept. 10 in Philadelphia at the National Convention Center. Harris is making her presidential debate debut, with Trump entering his seventh.
The two are looking to gain support from undecided voters, and Tuesday's debate is a pivotal moment in both campaigns.
"I think there's going to be a lot of pressure on tonight's debate, and pressure that applies to both candidates," Paul Baumgardner, a political science professor at Augustana College said.
"The Trump camp is worried that he may approach [the debate] in a manner that comes across as belittling or demeaning. This could, of course, lose voters."
Harris served as Vice President the last four years, but many voters said they are still trying out what she stands for.
"Before the [2024 Democratic National Convention], [Harris] did not release a lot of policy papers," Baumgardner said. "It's not as if she was highlighting three, four, five different policy areas where she would distinguish herself from the current President of the United States. It's only this week that her official campaign website has included an issues page."
Some first time voters at Augustana College are making sure they tune in for the action.
Jordan Schneckloth, a junior studying political science at Augustana, is excited to vote this November and is hosting a debate watch party with friends.
"[This is the] chance I have been waiting for," said Schneckloth. "I have my mind made up, but I'm open to hearing more stances from both sides."
Peyton Richard also studies political science at Augustana, and she isn't taking her ability to vote for granted.
"I feel very blessed," Richard expressed. "Beyond blessed to have the opportunity to vote. For a long time, women didn't have that opportunity. For me to be able to do that and make a stand is beyond important to me."
Regardless of what transpires tonight, there's one thing Richard values the most and will monitor about both candidates.
"Throughout this whole process, I hope people treat each other with kindness. That's my biggest motive in life. And I hate when politics divide people so much that they forget we're all human," Richard said.