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

6abc Action News has been working side-by-side with ABC News around the clock over the last several weeks to make Tuesday's historic presidential debate a reality.

From setting up cameras and production trucks to literally setting the stage, technical teams have been transforming Philadelphia's National Constitution Center for the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

Among the hard workers who have been tirelessly planning is ABC News Director Lily Olszewski.

She's the woman who will be behind the buttons, sending images to every home across the country as the debate takes place.

6abc spoke with her about the upcoming event, and she said the significance of it is not lost on her in the slightest.

"This is part of the historical record and I know the importance of this debate for this coming election. We saw in the last debate that it changed the course of history," Olszewski noted.

She says production crews have been conducting rehearsals and will continue running through it all right up until the debate goes live at 9 p.m.

House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik teed up her expectations for tonight's presidential debate, telling reporters that Harris "cannot hide forever."

"Tonight at the debate, the country will finally get to see the stark contrast between the strength and success of President Trump's America-first policies and the devastation and weakness of Kamala Harris's radical, failed, far-left agenda," Stefanik, the fourth-ranked House Republican, claimed at a news conference in the Capitol Tuesday morning.

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.