The race for control of the West Wing, the Oval Office, and the title of President of the United States of America is underway, as the 2024 United States presidential election is coming up fast with election day on Nov. 5. Recently, the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, and the Republican nominee, Donald Trump faced off in the much-anticipated Presidential Debate in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia on Sept. Tenth Back on June 27th, our current president, Joe Biden, and his opponent, Donald Trump battled in a heated debate in Atlanta. Unfortunately for President Biden, all anyone around the country could talk about was how his age might have finally caught up to him, affecting his performance on stage and in office. At first, President Biden was reluctant to the idea of stepping down as the Democratic nominee. Eventually, after speaking with his family, he made the decision to step down, and on July 21st, he handed the torch to Vice President, Kamala Harris to take his place in the presidential race. After Harris and Trump had both accepted their ticket as the nominees of their respective parties, they battled in a heated debate in Philadelphia. Vice President Harris handily won the debate, according to, Politico, NPR News, and BBC News, as she made ex-President Trump look silly, including the famous line about the Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio. “They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what’s happening in our country,” Trump infamously exclaimed during the debate.

On the Landmark College campus, the presidential election is having an impact on the students and faculty alike. I had the chance to ask a few students on campus about the most recent presidential debate. Some interviewees did not watch the debate at all, some only watched only a small bit of the debate, and some watched the debate in full, but most, if not all the interviewees said that Harris easily won the debate over Trump. It was said by some interviewees that when Donald Trump spoke, he made a lot of confusing remarks that didn’t make sense whatsoever. One student even said, “Trump was regurgitating what he said before, and say things that weren’t true.” I also asked the students who they believed would ultimately win the 2024 presidential election, with all saying similar things. They said that they honestly didn’t know who will win, and that the race is close. Although, multiple did say they would be a little “scared” if Donald Trump came up victorious. What I have gathered from my interviews with students here on campus is that quite a few students that attend Landmark College aren’t  interested in politics that much, but there a also many who are political and it seems that a large majority are in favor of Kamala Harris over Donald Trump.

I was also lucky enough to get a quick interview with Professor Danial Miller, who currently teaches here at Landmark College. He has written and published books and journal articles on social, economic, environmental, and political challenges faced in the United States of America and around the globe. He also has a podcast where these important topics are talked about in detail. I asked Professor Miller the same questions I had asked the students. When asked about the debate, he said “Both candidates did what they were supposed to do, which was to come around to topics they both felt strongly about and avoid topics they don’t.” He also mentioned that Kamala Harris successfully tricked Donald Trump into making personal attacks and veering of course many times throughout the debate. Professor Miller agrees with most people that Kamala Harris clearly won the debate, and although she had a lot at stake with the debate, and that she was able to clear that hurdle. As for who will win the election in the end, Professor Miller said the same as most of the students did and that this election is neck in neck, and although Kamala Harris currently has the small edge, it’ll gear up to be one of, if not the closest election in the history of this country.