Cheers, jeers and minds already made up at Minnesota debate watch parties

Watch parties for the Kamala Harris-Donald Trump blockbuster debate gave Minnesota voters a chance to take in the showdown alongside people with political views similar to their own. 

There was ample reaction to key moments — from cheering to jeering — at theaters in Minneapolis and New Hope at partisan gatherings where minds were likely already made up. 

At the Main Cinema along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, roughly 150 Democrats filled cushy red seats in support of Vice President Harris. 

Their range of emotions was apparent when the debate covered the candidates’ differing positions on abortion. Outrage followed former President Trump’s responses and loud approval came after Harris’ answers.

“One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree that the government and Donald Trump certainly should not be telling a woman what to do,” Harris said to cheers.

Earlier, Trump falsely said Minnesota allows babies to be executed after birth.

Abortions after 30 weeks gestation are rare in Minnesota. In the last five years of available data, there were only seven in that phase of pregnancy. 

Trump refused to say whether he’d veto federal abortion ban legislation, suggesting it would never pass Congress.

That answer didn’t satisfy Karen Schoeneck of Minneapolis.

“He's wanting to have it both ways. He's flip flopping all over the place,” she said. 

In New Hope, the 200 or so Republicans at the Cinema Grill also reflected on the abortion discussion. There, voter Isabella Dangelo said she didn’t want the topic to be so central to the political debate.

“It should be left out of politics,” she said, noting that other issues matter more to her. “At the end of the day this country is really hurting. We have high inflation. We have people who can’t pay their bills and can’t decide whether they’re paying for medication, food or gas or whatever.”

The crowded cinema room erupted in applause when Trump brought up Harris’ support for a Minneapolis bail fund that helped free some protesters from jail during the civil unrest after George Floyd’s murder.

“Like she was big on ‘Defund the Police’ in Minnesota. She went out,” Trump said as Harris began to interject. 

“Wait a minute, I'm talking now,” Trump went on. “She went out. She went out in Minnesota and wanted to let criminals that killed people, that burned down Minneapolis, she went out and raised money to get them out of jail.”

The “I’m talking now” line was one Harris used in the vice presidential debate four years ago. But Trump’s description of the Harris role is exaggerated. 

She offered support in a single social media post for the bail fund, but had no role in determining where that money went. Some who benefitted did go on to commit other violent crimes.

Thom Paul, who was at the Democratic watch party in Minneapolis, said he wasn’t happy with how Trump portrayed his city during the debate.

“I was appalled by that. The city was not burned to the ground as he kept saying,” Paul said. “There were certainly fires set, but it was a protest and I understand that protest.”

Max Fine, of St Louis Park, attended the Republican watch party. He said he was disappointed that Trump did not challenge Harris’ assertions more. He said he thought Harris outperformed expectations. 

"Everyone kind of expected her to do worse. So that goes in her favor,” Fine said. “Trump was not as coherent as he needed to be, especially in the earlier part of the debate, but he got more focused over time."

After the debate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the vice presidential nominee for Democrats, made a couple of television appearances to praise Harris. 

“She laid out a clear vision forward, one that's an opportunity economy. We keep talking about the ability to own a home, making sure prescription drugs are not too expensive and tackling real problems and doing it all with grace and dignity,” Walz said. “Then on the other side, look, I don't know how other to describe it: You saw a nearly 80 year old angry narcissist continue to veer off into things that in any other setting might actually be funny. But they're dangerous."

Republicans, including Trump’s running mate JD Vance, were critical of the debate moderators and said Harris wasn't challenged enough on her record.

Walz and Vance, an Ohio senator, are next up on the debate docket when they meet Oct. 1 in New York. 

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