LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump met for the first time on national television on Tuesday, and Kentuckians had a lot to say about the debate.
While the Jefferson County Republican Party did not have a watch party, WHAS11 stopped by the GOP's meeting in Jeffersontown before the debate and Republican Party Chair Don Fitzpatrick came to WHAS11 during the debate to give his thoughts.
"It's hard for me to accept that Vice President Harris is essentially saying she's not a part of the current situations that exist and focused on the future, it's eerily reminding me of hope and change," Fitzpatrick said. "One of the things that Donald Trump is always represented is strength - he's always been strong. We can't be the big kid in the school yard who won't fight back."
Fitzpatrick went into the night hoping the candidates would stay on the topic of policy, and said he felt confident for the November election.
Over in Old Louisville, the Jefferson County Democratic Party held a debate watch party, where every word was scrutinized.
"Naturally, there are some nerves. But, I think those quickly subsided when we saw the first question asked and the first answer provided from Vice President Harris and the first non-answer from Donald Trump," said Jefferson Co. Democratic Party Chair Logan Gatti. "Some of the answers from Donald Trump have been out there - very weird, very strange. Vice President Harris has been showing a lot of strength, a lot of poise, and a lot of really great policy answers that people are actually looking for."
Both Trump and Harris are vying for the nation's top position.
"Places where he wants to wiggle away and change the subject, she's holding him to that and I think she's doing a good job with that," said Metro Council District 6 Democratic Candidate J.P. Lyninger.
Jefferson County voters want to see what they could bring to Kentucky.
Some Republican leaders are looking at jobs.
“We’ll get the answers that we need to vote for President Trump," said Jefferson Co. Republican Party Vice-chair Charlie Bell. “If we can get those jobs here and keep them in house, in American jobs, those are the type of things I would want to see.”
And some democratic leaders are looking at the economy.
"Vice President Harris, she wants to focus on infrastructure, the economy, making those investments so that the future economy can start to grow and thrive," Gatti said.
This may be the only time we will see both Trump and Harris on the same stage, as there are currently no other planned debates ahead of the November election.
All eyes will be on the next eight weeks leading up to a closely watched Election Day.
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