Kamala Harris holed up in a hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ahead of the debate.

She adopted one of Hillary Clinton’s strategies to prepare for the debate: she did practice sessions against a man named Philippe Reines, who apparently can imitate Trump quite well.

“Frankly, he did such a good job of giving me the whole Trump package,” Clinton said of Reines. “I’m absolutely certain he’ll do the same for the vice president.”

Donald Trump has also gotten help from someone with a history with Clinton. Tulsi Gabbard – a former Democratic congresswoman who once tried to sue Clinton for defamation – reportedly helped him prepare.

Before leaving the party, Gabbard ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 2020 election. One of the most notable moments of her candidacy was when she attacked Harris’ record as a prosecutor during a primary debate.

But Trump says he hasn’t done much preparation. He told a New Hampshire radio station that there’s “not much you can do” to prepare, but he’s been “preparing for this debate my whole life.”

Much depends on the performance of both candidates in this debate.

Opinion polls suggest that the race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is extremely close. This is likely the only opportunity for voters to see the two candidates face off before voting.

Remember, this was supposed to be the second debate between Trump and Joe Biden, but the president’s poor performance in their first appearance ultimately meant the end of his campaign.

“People usually say that debates may be less important because many voters have already made up their minds,” says Matt Levendusky, a professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania.

“But this year the context will be very different, as many voters have not had as much opportunity to get to know Kamala Harris as a presidential candidate.

“So I think a lot of people are going to tune in to understand what Harris’ positions are, how she differs from Biden, how she’s different from Biden and how she’s able to counter Trump.”

One of those voters is Florida resident Shannon O’Brien. He is not a big fan of the vice president, but has serious concerns about Trump.

“I think there are a lot of people like me out there who are independent,” he told me.

“And if we see that Kamala is aware of that, is in the here and now and is ready to take the lead, I think that could move us in one direction or the other.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with these two.

ABC America moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis have the unenviable task of moderating tonight’s presidential debate.

The duel between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is generating great interest and for many swing voters, what happens on the debate stage could actually be decisive.

So it is safe to say that the way Muir and Davis conduct the election could have a significant impact on the outcome.

Donald Trump has a little more experience in this forum than Kamala Harris.

He has now participated in six presidential debates: three against Hillary Clinton in 2016, two against Joe Biden in 2020 and his most recent duel with Biden in June.

Biden’s performance, which ultimately led to his withdrawal from the race, was more discussed than Trump’s. But Trump ranted and distracted throughout the debate and was reprimanded for making more than 30 false or misleading statements.

There was also an unusual exchange of words in which Trump and Biden made jokes about golf handicaps.

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Harris’ last campaign debate was in 2020 against Trump’s Vice President Mike Pence.

The Harris-Pence debate didn’t make much of an impression; he is probably remembered mostly for a housefly that landed on Pence’s head.

But Harris had a viral moment when she twice fended off Pence’s interruptions by saying, “I’m speaking.”

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It became a sort of catchphrase for Harris and was reproduced everywhere from Twitter memes to T-shirts.

This could be the last debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. But it is not the last debate in the presidential campaign. (Unless things change, and they often do…)

Harris’ vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and Trump’s vice presidential candidate JD Vance have agreed to October 1.

This debate is hosted by the television station CBS in New York City.

I still vividly remember the excitement, anticipation and high political stakes that came with covering the Obama-McCain debates as a Washington correspondent. in 2008.

But this and all subsequent competitions have nothing to do with what will happen in Philadelphia.

Joe Biden’s implosion during His debate with Donald Trump in June ensured this.

We will experience the most momentous 90 minutes of the election 2024 (mark two).

I’ll be providing my thoughts and analysis as the big show progresses. Buckle up!

While we wait for the debate to begin, our correspondents are on site and can answer all your questions.

Leave them in the comments below!

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In Philadelphia, preparations were already underway ahead of the debate.

The candidates arrived in Pennsylvania earlier this week.

Here, ABC News anchor Gemma Veness explains the ground rules for the highly anticipated 90-minute showdown.

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The rules are very similar to those of the last debate between Trump and Joe Biden:

• The debate will continue 90 minuteswith two commercial breaks.

• The candidates have Two minutes to answer each questionwith a two-minute rebuttal and an additional minute for a follow-up question, clarification or answer.

• It will be no audience(But unlike the CNN debate, some reporters will be allowed into the room.)

• No props are allowed.

• No pre-written notes are allowed, but candidates will be provided with pen and paper.

• Microphones are muted except when candidates are invited to speak.

• It will be no opening statementsCandidates are requested to two-minute closing arguments.

The debate begins at 9 p.m., Philadelphia time.

That is 11am AEST.

The planned duration is 90 minutes.

You can read exactly how the whole thing will work here:

Good morning and thank you for joining us for our live coverage of the US presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris!

It is now just after 7 p.m. in Philadelphia, which means it will start in a few hours.

Given the close poll results, today’s events could have major implications for the battle for the White House.

The debate will be broadcast live on ABC News and on our YouTube channel.

And if you have a question, leave it in the comments and we’ll do our best to answer it!