In their first and possibly final faceoff in Philly, a smiling, well-rehearsed Kamala Harris and a stern Donald Trump clashed bitterly on immigration, the economy and abortion – getting in numerous jabs but neither landing a knockout blow or committing a major gaffe.

An aggressive Harris looked much stronger than Joe Biden’s pathetic performance that got him toppled from the Democratic ticket. Trump at times faltered and Harris was never really pressed to explain her flip-flops or record by two anti-Trump ABC moderators.

“It’s important to remind the former president, you’re not running against Joe Biden, you’re running against me,” Harris said in her best line of the night.

“She’s worse than Biden,” Trump said.

In a sign of confidence from Harris, she offered to debate Trump again minutes after the first one was done.

Despite getting push back from Harris, the former president tried to hold his own and not get baited by Harris, but at times he looked irked and frustrated as he repeatedly pressed Harris on inflation, the broken border and crime.

It took 40 minutes for Harris to finally bring up Trump’s criminal trials, prompting some of the sharpest exchanges of the night.

“I think this is so rich coming from someone who has been prosecuted for national security crime, economic crime, election interference, has been found liable for sexual assault and his next big court appearance is in November at his own criminal sentencing,” Harris said.

“It’s called weaponization. They weaponized the Justice Department,” Trump replied. “They used it to try and win the election. They’re fake cases…I probably took a bullet to the head because of the things they said about me.”

Asked by moderator David Muir whether he regretted anything about Jan. 6, Trump pivoted to asking why rioters in cities haven’t been arrested and prosecuted like those involved in the Jan. 6 riot.

“When are those people going to be prosecuted?” Trump said.

“The president of the United States incited a violent mob,” Harris said.

Trump cited reports that migrants were stealing pets for food – a charge that some pet owners have made and authorities have denied.

“In Springfield (Ohio) they’re eating the dogs, they’re eating the cats,” Trump said as Harris smiled incredulously.

Both candidates showcased vastly different styles. Trump for the most part looked straight ahead and did not react to Harris talking. But Harris often looked at Trump, smiled smugly and shook her head as he talked, almost as if she was trying to goad him into reacting.

Trump criticized Harris for flip-flopping her economic positions.

“She’s going to my philosophy now. In fact I was going to send her a MAGA hat,” he said, prompting Harris to openly laugh.

“She’s a Marxist. Everybody knows she’s a Marxist,” Trump added.

Harris was strongest and most focused when she was talking about defending abortion rights, though polls show voters care more about the economy and immigration.

Harris accused Trump of supporting an abortion ban, and Trump refused to say whether he’d veto one.

“There she goes again, It’s a lie,” Trump said, stealing Ronald Reagan’s famous line against Jimmy Carter. “I’m not signing a ban and there’s no reason to sign a ban.”

Harris started off the debate looking nervous and rushing her delivery, but settled in as the night wore on to her prosecutorial style of aggressively attacking.

“In this debate tonight, you’re gonna hear from the same old tired playbook, a bunch of lies, grievances and name calling,” she said.

With the race virtually tied in the polls, Harris and Trump desperately tried to get an edge that could propel them to the White House.

This was Trump’s seventh presidential debate of his life and Harris’s first. She has held no formal press conferences since being propelled to the top of the ticket and her inexperience at talking without a teleprompter at times showed.

Harris also struggled Tuesday night to position herself as the candidate of change – a difficult feat for an incumbent vice president whose administration has been in charge for the last four years.

Polls consistently show that voters want change, not more of the same and that could be the Democrats’ biggest challenge.

But Trump also has a tough sell in arguing for change, since he was the president for four years and is 78 years old.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during last night’s debate. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris shakes hands with former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump before last night’s debate. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)