Harris, Trump debate matchup expected to be pivotal moment for both campaigns

WASHINGTON (TND) — It could be the last chance to shift the electorate when Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump lock up in their debate Tuesday night.

Trump campaigned in Wisconsin the weekend before Tuesday's encounter while Harris remained in Pittsburgh, Pa. preparing for the debate.

Harris will likely have to defend flip-flops from past stances. Axios identified nine areas where she’s reportedly changed, including originally opposing a border wall, no longer opposing a fracking ban, and backing off Medicare for all.

Her campaign website added an “issues” page ahead of the debate after critics claimed she wasn’t clear on her stances. It had been seven weeks since President Joe Biden dropped his re-election bid before the Harris team put the page up on the website.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was asked over the weekend if Harris abandoned progressive positions.

No, I don’t think she’s abandoning her ideals. I think she’s being pragmatic and doing what she thinks is right in order to win the election," he told NBC News.

National polling averages have the race at a dead heat between the two candidates. A New York Times/Siena poll released on the eve of the debate has Trump up one point over Harris, well within the margin of error and the closest it's ever been between candidates with just eight weeks before an election.

When the dust settles Tuesday night, it will have been the seventh time Donald Trump has appeared on the big stage in a general election debate, the most ever for a candidate.