Harris takes fight to Trump in fiery presidential debate

Kamala Harris went on the offensive against Donald Trump in a fiery televised debate Tuesday, engaging her rival in a heated exchange as they vied for momentum in an agonizingly close election.

In a performance that earned her the endorsement of pop superstar Taylor Swift, the Democrat confronted the "extreme" Republican on contentious issues, from abortion to democracy, and accused him of being friendly with dictators.

Trump repeatedly raised his voice as he countered the vice president on immigration and the economy, labeling her a "Marxist" and blaming her for what he claimed were the failings of President Joe Biden's administration.

The former president asserted after the ABC News-hosted clash in Philadelphia that it was his "best debate," while Harris's campaign also declared victory and challenged him to a second debate in October.

With less than two months until the election, Harris, 59, was under pressure to deliver in front of an expected audience of tens of millions after her sudden replacement as the Democratic candidate in place of Biden.

She began by surprising Trump with a handshake before they took to their lecterns, but the niceties soon ended.

Trump, who had previously believed he was cruising to victory, reacted to pressure from Harris with his familiar finger-jabbing insults and meandering invective typical of his rallies.

Harris responded with amusement, occasionally exclaiming "c'mon," before declaring that she represents a fresh start after the "mess" of the Trump presidency—asserting, "We're not going back."

 'Eat you for lunch' 

One of the most intense exchanges was on abortion. Trump insisted that, after pushing for the end of the federal right to abortion, he...