PHILADELPHIA (BP) — In their first and likely only debate before the presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump squared off for 90 minutes in what was often more a rehash of each candidate’s past actions and statements than a debate on future policy.

The debate, held Sept. 10 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, started off with a question on the economy, one of the few issues on which the candidates dealt in specifics, with both touting tax cuts and talking tariffs.

Abortion and immigration also featured heavily, but the fiery discussion brought perhaps more heat than light. Trump tried and mostly failed to ding his opponent and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, for their progressive abortion stance and lax immigration policies, while Harris tried to paint the former president as extreme and divisive on both issues.

“Last night’s debate was a collection of missteps by Donald Trump, bias on the part of the moderators, and a reminder of how progressive Kamala Harris is,” said Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Clint Pressley, pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C.

Trump, who called democrats “radical” on the issue of abortion, was fact-checked by moderators on his claim that Harris does not believe in any restrictions on the procedure, including up to the point of birth or even immediately after. He called such an instance the “execution” of a baby. In reality it is withholding medical care so that the baby ultimately dies.

As a senator, Harris voted against the “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” which would have required that infants born alive after an attempted abortion be given the same medical care as any other baby at the same gestational age. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 143 such botched abortions occurred between 2003 and 2014.

As governor, Walz signed one of the most permissive abortion laws in the country, essentially placing no restrictions on the procedure at any point in pregnancy. It has made Minnesota a destination for women seeking abortions.

On his morning podcast “The Briefing” Wednesday (Sept. 11), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler said Trump missed a number of opportunities to paint Harris as extreme on abortion.

“[Trump] made his arguments in such a way that the vice president was able to escape much of what he was charging against her,” Mohler said. “And that turned out to be very sad. It was a tragic development when we’re talking about abortion, because … Kamala Harris is the most pro-abortion candidate in the history of American politics.”

Abortion wasn’t the only issue on which the candidates dodged a substantive debate.

“Undoubtedly, the millions of Americans who tuned into the debate between former President Trump and Vice-President Kamala Harris were disappointed by the confusion and lack of clarity in the two people who want to serve as President,” said Dan Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. “Kamala Harris continued to present a mixed message, claiming herself as the candidate of change while not really answering important questions about the failures of the Biden administration. And President Trump missed opportunities to make important points about economic and immigration issues and at times indulged in conversations that were off topic.”

Darling added, however, that though Trump’s abortion arguments were lacking, he still presents a contrast for pro-lifers.

“For those who care about the sanctity of human life, there was a clear difference (in the candidates),” he said. “Though President Trump has softened his pro-life position, he should be commended for asking Vice President Harris about her extreme positions and her unwillingness to entertain any restrictions on abortion.”

Pressley said Southern Baptists should recognize the “transcendent policy issues of our time,” which he lists as the sanctity of life and marriage, gender issues and religious liberty.

“Cling tenaciously to a biblical worldview, and don’t be manipulated,” he said. “Pray for God to give us wise and discerning leaders. Trust that God is sovereign and that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world.”

Darling encouraged church leaders to keep a healthy perspective during a contentious campaign season.

“Pastors have an opportunity in this election to help their people steward their citizenship well by weighing the issues, voting, and conducting themselves in a way that honors Christ,” he said. “Even though the partisanship of the election can be wearying, American Christians should be thankful for the opportunity to influence policy, both local, state, and national. This is a privilege many millions of people around the world only wish they had. We can do that while also remembering that our ultimate citizenship is in Heaven.”

The presidential election is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Laura Erlanson is managing editor of Baptist Press.)