Debate verdict: defensive Trump rattled

Donald Trump was left looking angry and frustrated in his crucial TV debate with Kamala Harris in Philadelphia.

In a fiery 90 minutes that could help decide the presidential race, Harris frequently rattled the former president with personal attacks that threw him off message and raised the temperature of this highly-anticipated contest.

Her jibes on the size of his rally crowds, his conduct during the Capitol riot, and on the officials who served in his administration who have since become outspoken critics of his campaign repeatedly left Trump on the back foot.

The pattern for much of this debate was Harris goading her Republican rival into making extended defences of his past conduct and comments. He gladly obliged, raising his voice at times and shaking his head.

Both candidates made untrue statements but most came from Trump. He faced mockery for claiming that immigrants in Ohio were eating the cats and dogs of their neighbours.