"RhetoricThe art of persuasion. is the art of ruling the minds of men," PlatoOne of the most important Ancient Greek philosophers.  once said. In the first - and possibly the only - head-to-head debate between presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, both sought to capture the minds of their prospective voters. But who captured their imagination?

There could hardly be a greater contrast between the candidates' rhetorical styles. Trump is a firebrand: belligerent, quick with an insult and emotional - but also digressive and parentheticalSaying something as an addition to what you are mainly trying to say. , so that it is easy to lose the thread of his speech. Harris, by contrast, is forensic and incisive, her years as a prosecutor lending her a clear fluency and a staunch refusal to be rattled.

But what about their visions? Harris' tagline was in constant use: "We are not going back." She painted a compelling picture of an America looking to move forward. Meanwhile, Trump turned to an exhausted roster of untruths and misrepresentations, many the same or similar to his flagship statements from 2016.

He accused Haitian immigrants in Ohio of "eating the dogs", claimed that Harris "wants to do transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison", and alleged that the DemocratsMembers of the Democratic party, the left-leaning US political party. Joe Biden and Barack Obama are both Democrats. support aborting babies after they have already been born.

In the past, his colourful and divisive claims were capable of arousing strong emotion. But after so many years, some think they have lost some of their lustre. He had to be reminded more than once that he was not running against President Joe Biden.

It is clearly a sensitive subject. When Harris alleged that his supporters are leaving his rallies early out of "exhaustion and boredom", Trump began to fulminateCriticise strongly. It can also mean to explode. It derives from a Latin word meaning to strike with lightning., spitting baseless attacks. Harris remained calm and logical, even as Trump heavily implied that she was lying about her racial identity.

The debate also touched on reproductive rights, Russia's war on Ukraine and the war in GazaThe smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. . Harris came into her own in passionate defences of women's right to autonomy over their bodies, consolidating her huge lead among female voters. But on her more vulnerable issues such as inflation, Gaza and the border, she was reticentReluctant. Not revealing one's thoughts readily. .

So who was the winner? One notable name was convinced by Harris' performance. Just minutes after the debate concluded, superstar Taylor Swift endorsed the Democratic candidate, describing her as a "steady-handed, gifted leader".

The polls are on Harris' side too. Polling averages are showing a slim +2.8-point lead for Harris over Trump. But there is by no means a consensus. A poll released yesterday by The New York Times and Siena College found Trump leading Harris 48 to 47%.¹

And there are more warning signs for Harris. Surveys show that nearly half of likely voters view her as too extreme, compared to 32% for Trump. One in five Harris voters say that they are voting for her due to dislike for other candidates, compared to 9% of Trump supporters. And whilst women are overwhelmingly for Harris, Trump has a +16 point lead among men.²

Harris argued for "building on the aspirations and hopes of the American people"; Trump invoked a vision of apocalypseA Christian name for the end of the world. Descended from a Greek word meaning uncover, it was used to describe the Biblical book of Revelation. and World War. But will hope win out?

Is it all over for Trump?

Yes: Last night, Harris proved her skills. She is incisive, cool-headed and authoritative in the face of Trump's superficial bluster. Meanwhile, Trump has failed to adapt to his opponent.

No: The polls show that Trump and Harris are still neck and neck. Calling it for either of them at this point is sheer complacency, especially after the infamous failure of the polls in the 2016 election.

Or... Trump thrives when he can depict himself as an underdog. If the mainstream media and public figures come out in favour of Harris too early, he may be able to masterfully manipulate public feeling to claw it all back. It is best we do not speculate too soon.