Less than three months after a challenging debate performance by President Joe Biden, Kamala Harris is gearing up for a high-stakes face-off with Donald Trump. As the top Democratic candidate, Harris is currently in Pittsburgh, engaged in rigorous preparations with a select group of advisors and confidantes. With just days until the debate in Philadelphia, Harris aims to convince Americans that she is the best candidate for the White House.

According to sources, Harris will be participating in intense debate sessions led by Karen Dunn, a partner at Paul, Weiss and the mastermind behind Harris's successful debate prep in her 2020 match against former Vice President Mike Pence. In addition to Dunn, Harris will also receive coaching from her veteran policy advisor Rohini Kosoglu, Democratic National Convention strategist Minyon Moore, domestic policy aide Brian Nelson, campaign chief-of-staff Sheila Nix, veteran advisor Sean Clegg, and Cedric Richmond, a co-chair of her campaign and former Louisiana congressman.

Harris has spent weeks and months preparing for this debate, which was initially supposed to be a vice presidential face-off against JD Vance, Ohio senator and Trump's running mate. However, Biden's decision to step down thrust Harris into an unprecedented situation, where she enters the general election debate without the opportunity to clean up any missteps. This single televised debate will be her only chance to directly challenge the former president.

To aid her preparation, the Harris campaign has enlisted the help of Philippe Reines, a veteran from Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign. Reines, a former deputy assistant Secretary of State, famously played the role of Trump during Clinton's debate preparations, fully embracing the character by donning a wig and ill-fitting suit. This approach contrasts with Biden, who relied on his longtime attorney, Robert Bauer, during his debate preparations.

Harris's task during the debate will be to focus on winning the election rather than pleasing the press or opposition, according to University of Virginia professor and election forecaster Larry Sabato. Sabato believes that Harris's relative anonymity as Vice President and Trump's tendencies to cause controversies will work in her favor.

During her preparations, Harris will be participating in multiple 90-minute mock debate sessions per day. The campaign aims to avoid getting lost in minute policy discussions, which have hindered Harris in the past. Instead, they will focus on extensive reading work and simulate the debates to ensure Harris remains focused and on message.

The Harris campaign recognizes Trump's vast debating experience, having participated in six general election debates across the 2016 and 2020 cycles. In contrast, Harris has only debated once, against Pence, and briefly as a primary candidate. However, the campaign chair, Jen O'Malley Dillon, acknowledges Trump as a formidable opponent due to his experience.

Political operative Susan Estrich, who led Michael Dukakis's 1988 campaign, advises Harris to concentrate on effectively presenting her own case rather than solely targeting Trump. Estrich emphasizes the importance of Harris showcasing her policy positions and letting Trump's divisive rhetoric speak for itself. However, she acknowledges the potential challenge of muted microphones, which may affect the ability to bait Trump off-script.

As the date of the debate approaches, all eyes will be on Kamala Harris as she steps onto the stage to face off against Donald Trump. The pressure is on for Harris to showcase her vision and strengths as she champions her bid for the presidency, while navigating the unique circumstances of this debate.