Tuesday's presidential debate marks an extraordinary historical occasion as it features two candidates with substantial experience in the White House.

This "political baggage" can be a liability for the candidates, according to experts who have analyzed debates, but it can also be an asset, depending on how it is presented and defended.

When they square off in the
debate in Philadelphia, both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will need to walk a fine line between affirming what they consider their successes during their administrations. And in Harris' case, that includes both supporting -- and separating herself -- from President Joe Biden's record, while also offering what she calls a "new way forward."

"The question the candidates face is how much credit do you take and what effects will that have on gaining more votes from undecideds," Kathleen Hall Jamieson, the director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania told
.

The history of sitting VPs on the debate stage

This will be only the fourth time a sitting vice president has participated in a presidential debate.

Aaron Kall, director of the University of Michigan's Debate Program, told
that in all of those previous cases, while the vice president was a candidate at the top of the ticket following very successful two-term presidents, it didn't guarantee victory.

Only one of those serving vice presidents, George H.W. Bush, went on to win the presidency.

The
presidential debate will take place on Sept. 10 at 9 p.m. ET and air on ABC and stream on
Live, Disney+ and Hulu.

"Some of the reasons incumbent vice presidents struggle is because when it's three consecutive terms of the same party, voters become unpredictable and desire change," Kall remarked.

Kall explained that vice presidents must strike a balance between supporting the incumbent's policies and presenting their own vision for the future.

Experts pointed to Al Gore's 2000 campaign as a clear example of this challenge and how such a strategy can go wrong.

Gore entered the election following President Bill Clinton's Monica Lewinsky scandal and sought to minimize its impact by focusing less on Clinton's legacy, according to Jamieson.

The issue was that despite the scandal, Clinton's policies and record, particularly in the realm of the economy, were well-received by voters, and Gore failed to acknowledge this or strategize his campaign around it, Jamieson argued.

"Gore might have been elected president if he hadn't distanced himself from Clinton's legacy," she declared.

Harris faces opportunity, risks

When Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee in July, she inherited a mix of advantages and disadvantages for her first contest against Trump, according to experts.

Firstly, she is running in the unusual situation where the current president has chosen not to seek re-election. This means she lacks the years of experience that previous vice presidents had when they ran for office, Kall and Jamieson noted.

Despite Biden's approval ratings facing challenges before he left the presidential race, Kall highlights that several of his policies and initiatives enjoyed widespread support among the American people. Harris has cleverly capitalized on this by emphasizing these successes on the campaign trail, notably citing the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the CHIPs bill.

Harris joined Biden on Labor Day, advocating for the administration's pro-labor policies.

However, Harris must also confront the challenges facing the administration, including rising prices and immigration, according to experts. Harris has begun to address these concerns by outlining her own policy stances, such as her proposed modification to Biden's plan to tax capital gains at a lower rate.

"Harris can't simply say she intends to continue Biden's policies. She needs to present a forward-looking vision and establish her own distinct perspective," Hall observed. "She'll likely be preparing for the debate with a similar approach."

Kall observed that Harris also has a significant advantage: the visual contrast with her older opponent. Biden faced criticism during the previous debate for appearing less engaged with the questions, which strengthened arguments that he was unfit for office.

Harris, who is 17 years younger than Trump, will likely try to leverage Trump's age to her benefit.

"Being younger, coming from a different generation, and her unique life story … all of these factors will enable her to create distance from both Trump and Biden on stage," he explained.

Kall pointed out that the late change to the ticket gave Harris' campaign less time to prepare for the debate and, more importantly, less time to respond to any missteps or successes from the confrontation.

"Time is of the essence, and because Harris is less well-known and less present in this situation, her performance in those 90 minutes will demonstrate her ability to handle the position," he stated.

Trump has to contend with his record

Trump is one of a few former presidents to seek re-election after losing the previous election. Grover Cleveland is the only president to secure a second term after losing his re-election bid in 1888.

Since the launch of the 2024 campaign, Trump has been highlighting his accomplishments during his presidency while simultaneously attacking Biden, Harris, and the Democrats.

Jamieson noted that Trump's argument echoes the frequently posed question "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" However, Jamieson emphasizes that this question doesn't necessarily benefit either side.

"The Democrats want voters to recall the pandemic, while Republicans want them to focus on the economy. In both cases, there are reasons to criticize the candidates based on their past actions," she stated.

The former president enters Tuesday's debate with a greater level of experience than Harris, having participated in six presidential debates over the past eight years. Harris, on the other hand, has not engaged in a debate since the 2019 Democratic primary.

Trump has consistently criticized Biden and Harris regarding the administration's handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and the surge in prices, a theme he has repeatedly brought up at campaign stops, including a contentious visit to Arlington National Cemetery last month.

"Trump's debate performances have often resembled his rallies, so I expect the Afghanistan issue to be raised in the upcoming debate," she stated.

Kall also anticipates that Trump will bring up Biden and attempt to convince voters that he and Harris share identical policy positions.

"I believe he would rather debate Biden again, but dwelling on it excessively might alienate independent voters who are ready to move on," he stated.

Jamieson points out that Trump's political record carries a heavier burden compared to the other candidates due to his two impeachments, the criminal conviction in New York, and three pending indictments, overshadowing any achievements during his presidency.

"There are certain legacies that will continue, and Trump will bring them to the forefront," she stated. "The question is how much this is discussed in the debate and how voters assess his responses."

In the end, experts predict the key group of undecided voters will be most influenced by the candidates' demeanor and their approach to policies that resonate with them.

"The election will be close, and the outcome hinges on a small number of undecided voters in key states," Hall emphasized. "These voters are familiar with Trump and Harris' past, but they'll be focusing on their plans for the future."