Trump vs Harris Presidential Debate: Candidates go on attack in zinger-filled showdown

Harris' campaign said it's hosting more than 1,300 debate watch parties across the country, and running mate Gov. Tim Walz will deliver remarks at one of them in Phoenix Tuesday night.

The watch parties will be in all 50 states, with more than 100 planned on college campuses, according to the campaign. The events will be used for volunteers to make calls to battleground-state voters and share debate content on digital platforms.

More than 300 of the planned watch parties will be group specific, including Republicans for Harris-Walz and Veterans for Harris-Walz events in Arizona, North Carolina and Georgia. There will also be Latino house parties in Arizona and labor-organized events in Pennsylvania, according to the campaign.

Action News had a chance to sit down with ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce ahead of Tuesday's presidential debate in Philadelphia.

Bruce has kept track of both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump's campaigns leading up to the highly-anticipated event at the National Constitution Center.

After President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, Bruce noted that the dynamics between the two parties changed tremendously.

She was able to discuss what both Trump and Harris need to achieve on the debate stage to get to the White House.

Bruce also dissected the impact of swing states and the importance of votes in key battleground states like Pennsylvania.

On top of that, Action News asked some complex questions, like what exchanges could viewers see between Trump and Harris that may move the needle with voters?

Bruce has answers, commentary, insights, and more on the first presidential debate scheduled for September 10 at 9 p.m.

As security tightens around the National Constitution Center ahead of the presidential debate, another issue authorities are concerned with when it comes to security is whether protests will break out before, during, or after the debate.

Action News spoke with a lifelong Democrat who flew all the way from Florida to protest issues relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"This is a major international event. I've already done media with Mexico and Russia, all kinds of people. There are all kinds of neat people I am relating to," said Bob Kunst from Miami Beach.

The Philly Palestinian Coalition is also expected to gather at City Hall on Tuesday night and march down to the National Constitution Center.

Police said they're working with the group to create an atmosphere of expression while also keeping safety in mind.

On top of that, Trump supporters gathered outside a Center City hotel where the vice president was staying Monday night.

And in the city's Brewerytown section, groups gathered outside of a Harris campaign office to protest issues surrounding deportation.

"It's a good day because the vice president is here and we're trying to make our voice heard," said protester Tia Chao.

Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, said on CNN on Tuesday morning that Donald Trump has done "traditional debate prep," in addition to preparing by speaking to the media and attending public events.

"He has been preparing for this debate. He's done traditional debate prep," she said, before citing media appearances such as town halls, press conferences, podcasts and interviews.

The Trump campaign has previously focused on media and public events as Trump's debate prep, barely discussing more "traditional" debate prep.

Lara Trump framed her father-in-law's public events and media availability as a "stark contrast, of course, to what we've seen from Kamala Harris."

"I think Donald Trump is very focused on this debate tonight. He knows how important it is. He doesn't take anything for granted," she said.