There are many examples of Vice President Harris answering questions in a hollow, specious, almost caricature-like manner, and it is easy to conclude from her bland speeches that her delay in having a one-on-one interview with a serious reporter is because she is not flexible enough without a script and is not proficient in the necessary facts. That’s what the Republicans say all the time.

But that assessment ignores her performance in the 2020 debate with then-Vice President Mike Pence. Remember that exchange? The stakes were high.It was as good as any interview on heavyweight television, but she did a great job. More than “great,” in fact. Several post-debate surveys of viewers, including one538 InvestigationandA CNN investigationall thinkHarris won. Granted, Pence had a fly on his head, trying to steal his spotlight, but she won nonetheless. He’s been on the national political stage longer than she has, and she’s done it without missing a beat.

Despite his absurd boasting about his past debate performances, much of it was laughable — a combination of childish mockery, unparalleled lies, sulking, flaming, glaring and gloating. You know that cartoonish dance that football players do when they score a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a close game? That was Trump on the debate stage, except he didn’t score a touchdown. He didn’t even move the ball forward.

I’m referring to his antics before his rivals for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, his three face-offs with Hillary Clinton in that year’s election, and his two face-offs with Joe Biden in the 2020 election. (He skipped the 2024 Republican primary debates — wisely, given his lead over the other candidates.)

Now imagine Trump versus Kamala Harris. His podium will not be bigger than a black woman’s, he cannot stand taller than her, and the seal on the invitation will not be shinier. Imagine the humiliation and displeasure he will feel.

Actually, you don’t have to imagine. He insistsShe fudged the size of her audience,She’s not really black.,He is prettier than her.she overthrew Biden in some kind of coup—Judge others by yourself, right?——This is already very telling. And he has alwaysMispronouncing her name,All of which confirmed that Harris unnerved him in a special and powerful way.

That gives her an advantage over him in the debate, provided she maintains the discipline and composure she has shown so far in this crash course in presidential campaigning. The more she keeps her cool, the more he loses it. He and her advisers know this: That’s why Harris’s camp requires that microphones not be muted when the candidates are speaking to each other, while Trump’s camp does the opposite. Everyone involved (except maybe Trump) recognizes how combustible he is; it’s just that one side wants to light the fire while the other side looks for the extinguisher.

Harris is facing off against Trump at the perfect time for her — because he has repeatedly shown signs of being in a slumpHe does make weird mistakes and weird choices. You can’t rely onFabricating helicopter flights and secret conversations that never took placeComeBecome a news cycle winnernor can we rely onObsession with dead animalsKennedy Jr. to get rid of the “weirdo” label,Kennedy will join Trump’s transition team, which appears to include…Former congressman who loves autocracyTulsi Gabbard. Trump, Kennedy, Gabbard: It was the dinner party from hell. OrBarbecueParty, because Trump oftenSpeculations about Hannibal Lecter.

But none of her recent appearances have been as confusing as Biden’s two months ago. That suggests she is more presidential than Trump.

Admittedly, that’s a low bar. But that’s the point.The 2016 Showdown with ClintonorThe 2020 Showdown with BidenNeither did himself any favors. Why would he fare better with Harris? Her weaknesses and foibles are exploitable by a focused and ferocious debater, but Trump has never been one, and there is no reason to believe he will be one now. He’s older. He’s meaner — as mean as can be. He’s also angrier (also as mean as can be).

He is roaring to an ignominious end. In an election year filled with highlights, this should be a particularly fascinating moment.