<div> After watching the Presidential debate Tuesday, the Herald reached out to political party leaders to get their take about how their preferred candidate did. Carolyn Loxley, the Chair of the Pickaway County Democratic Central Committee, said Kamala Harris showed voters that she’s ready to be president. Travis Ricketts, chairman of the Pickaway County Republican Central Committee, said Donald Trump is the best person to serve as president. When Loxley was asked whether she thinks the debate will change anything — move the needle for either candidate — she said people have said they need to know more about Vice President Harris. “With this opportunity to see her in action, they have had the chance to get to know her competence, intelligence and professionalism,” she said. “The contrast between the two candidates was clear — chaos with Trump vs competence with Harris.” <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Same question for Ricketts — who said Harris’ and Trump’s policies could not be more different. “We have two candidates that both have occupied the White House and their records could not further apart,” he said. Loxley said Harris had the better debate performance. “Vice President Harris was well prepared and responsive to the questions and issues as presented by the moderators,” she said. “She was able to focus on the topic of the question posed and offer a clear and coherent response. She was professional, thorough and powerful in her answers.” Ricketts contends, “Kamala Harris is part of an administration so disastrously unpopular with the American people that the sitting president had to suspend his campaign. Under the current Biden-Harris administration, home ownership is out of reach for young people, inflation is through the roof, our allies in Europe and Israel have been plunged into war, and the number of illegal immigrants in this country doubled.” <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> In contrast, Loxley condemned Trump in no uncertain terms. “Trump used the same tired tropes and lies in his responses,” she said. “Those who believe in his dark vision of the US will swallow it whole. His ranting and disrespect for the current sitting POTUS is in itself shameful. Never have we as a nation seen the kind of behavior from a past president on display such as Trump demonstrates daily. It was a good reminder of the anxiety and stress most of us experienced during his time in the White House.” Ricketts counters, “Under Donald Trump’s administration, the economy was booming, our border was secure, and America was strong on the world stage. Loxley said the debate showed Harris’ character as a leader. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> “The initial handshake was a demonstration of her confidence and strength as a leader. She is not intimidated,” she said. “Calling out Trump for blocking the bipartisan boarder bill so that he can campaign on it. The list could be long as she had a strong performance.” Not everything can be sunshine and puppy dogs — so Harris may have had a few low points during the debate. “There were a few “mis-spoken” words,” Loxley said. “This was not a true low point, but as human beings we sometimes slip with our words.” Loxley said she was surprised Trump showed up for the debate instead of chickening out. “At least he showed up. That was a surprise,” she said. Loxely insists that Trump is not good for America. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> “Trump continues to use racism to divide and denigrate our great nation; Disrespect for the sitting president of the US. He does not understand, or chooses to mis-portray tariffs and the impact they actually have on everyday life for American citizens,” she said. Endless criticism of the Affordable Healthcare without a plan to replace it. He has no plan!” Loxley recalled a few memorable zingers from the debate. “Harris saying that the Biden administration challenges began with the effort to “Clean up Trump’s mess! Trump was “proud to kill Roe v Wade.” Ricketts said Trump too had a memorable night by countering that Harris should’ve have done more as vice president to make things better. “President Trump’s closing response was perfect — ‘We just heard all these wonderful things she’s going to do, but the question is why isn’t she doing them now?’” <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Much like Trump in his closing remarks, Ricketts gets the last word. “Pickaway County Republicans know that their wallets and this country cannot survive another Harris term in the White House.” <nbtemplate data-content="eyJhcGlLZXkiOiAiZDgxM2Q5Yzg3NTI3N2IzNWU0YzRmZDM0NTAyMjJkNmQiLCAiZGVzY3JpcHRpb24iOiAiU3Vic2NyaWJlIHRvIHRoZSBDaXJjbGV2aWxsZSBIZXJhbGQiLCAiZXZlbnQiOiAibXBfc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uX2J1dHRvbl9jbGlja19ldmVudCIsICJ1cmwiOiAiaHR0cHM6Ly9hcGcwMy5uZXd6d2FyZS5jb20vc3M3MHYyL2FkYW1zL2NvbW1vbi90ZW1wbGF0ZS5qc3A_c2tpbj1jdmgmaW5pdD1zdGFydCZpbml0RWRpdGlvbj1DVkgiLCAibWVkaWFJZCI6IDE1OTM4MzUsICJ0aXRsZSI6ICInVGhlaXIgcmVjb3JkcyBjb3VsZCBub3QgZnVydGhlciBhcGFydCcifQ==" data-id=MediaPlatformAmplitudeButton></nbtemplate></div>

Mountain View, CA

After watching the Presidential debate Tuesday, the Herald reached out to political party leaders to get their take about how their preferred candidate did.
                Carolyn Loxley, the Chair of the Pickaway County Democratic Central Committee, said Kamala Harris showed voters that she’s ready to be president.
                Travis Ricketts, chairman of the Pickaway County Republican Central Committee, said Donald Trump is the best person to serve as president.
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