Voters deserve better than what we saw in Harris-Trump debate

If a presidential debate is an opportunity to showcase the best man or woman the United States has to offer for the most important job in the world, Tuesday night’s debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris made me want to start the job application process all over again.
Americans deserve better. We’re 55 days out from an election, folks. The candidates have been polling neck and neck. And what we saw and heard Tuesday is the best we’ve got?
For two hours, Harris and Trump dithered and fought, lied and spewed. Neither of them clarified policy positions or said anything we hadn’t heard before. Neither of them were all that appealing, interesting or persuasive. Neither was a winner. It was the American people who were the losers.
Of the many questions the ABC News moderators asked, the only one that really mattered was at the beginning: “When it comes to the economy, do you believe Americans are better off than they were four years ago?”
Harris didn’t answer in a straightforward way. She went on about a vague plan to save the middle class.
The economy question should have been an easy one for Trump. But he couldn’t quite nail it.
“People can’t go out and buy cereal or bacon or eggs or anything else,” Trump said. “The people of our country are absolutely dying with what they’ve done. They’ve destroyed the economy.” 
Later, in perhaps a more memorable moment, Trump said about Harris’ economic plan, “She doesn’t have a plan. She copied Biden’s plan and it’s like four sentences, like ‘run, Spot, run.'”
The economy is a top issue for voters. Inflation surged at its fastest pace in four decades more than a year into the Biden-Harris administration, and Americans are still feeling the pain of high prices.
The Census Bureau reported this summer that 37% of American adults found it’s somewhat or very difficult for them to pay normal expenses.
But Trump missed an opportunity − as he did several times in the debate − to really land a solid blow. Will he for once just make a compelling statement about something of substance? Is that too much to ask?
Trump should have framed every answer with the “are you better off” question in mind. But he lacked the discipline or forethought to do so.
Profound embarrassment:Trump goes full loon in debate with Harris. Republicans, you sure you want this guy?
Unlike Trump, Harris has been in office the past four years. She repeatedly said she wanted to “turn the page.” Trump should have pinned her down on that turn of phrase. If her plans are so great, why didn’t she do more to implement them while serving as vice president? If Biden’s policies are so effective, why turn the page? Trump couldn’t do it.
He got triggered at one point and started talking about immigrants eating pets. It was as weird and off-topic as it sounds.
Both candidates missed opportunities to clarify policy positions and were content to take potshots at each other, using catch phrases we’ve already heard repeatedly.
ABC News moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir appeared to be biased against Trump and in favor of Harris. The moderators were quick to fact-check Trump. But when Harris made questionable statements, they let them go.
When Trump avoided answering a question directly, the moderators followed up firmly. Yet, when Harris failed to answer directly, as she often did, the moderators often didn’t follow up.
Who is the real Kamala Harris?Bernie Sanders told the truth about Kamala Harris trying to fool voters. Believe him.
Even the way questions were framed seemed bias. Muir asked Trump: “Is there anything you regret about what you did” on Jan. 6, 2021?
But when it came to the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, Muir’s question for Harris was more gentle: “Do you believe you bear any responsibility in the way that (the Afghanistan) withdrawal played out?”
Neither candidate claimed any responsibility for either debacle.
The moderators’ bias was frustrating, but I’m not sure how much it matters. The quality of these candidates and their ability to articulate their policy positions are what matters most.
It’s hard to see how this debate will help voters make a decision between two deeply flawed candidates who failed to articulate a reasonable economic, domestic or foreign policy vision for America.
With less than eight weeks before Election Day, Americans need to ask themselves the single most important debate question: Are you better off today than you were four years ago?
Their answer will shape our nation and the world for the next four.
Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.