[Music] tonight the high stake Showdown here in Philadelphia between vice president kamla Harris and former president Donald Trump their first face-to-face meeting in this presidential election their first face-to-face meeting ever a historic race for president upended just weeks ago President Biden withdrawing after his last debate Donald Trump now up against a new opponent the candidate separated by the smallest of margins essentially tied in the polls nationally and in the key Battlegrounds including right here in Pennsylvania all still very much in play the ABC News presidential debate starts right now this is an ABC News special the most consequential moment of this campaign kamla Harris together we will chart a new way forward Donald Trump we will soon be a great nation again face to face historic the ABC News presidential debate here now David mure and Lindsey Davis good evening I'm David mure and thank you for joining us for tonight's ABC News presidential debate we want to well have been shared with the campaigns the candidates will have two minutes to answer questions and this is the clock that's what they'll be seeing two minutes for rebuttal and one minute for follow-ups clarifications or responses their microphones will only be turned on when it's their turn to speak no pre-written notes allowed there is no audience here tonight in this Hall at the national constit KLA Harris Let's Have a good debate see have fun thank you you welcome to you both it's wonderful to have you it's an honor to have you both here tonight the ABC News presidential debate will continue after this two and a half years uh into this conflict Mr President it has been the position of the Biden administ rtion that we must defend Ukraine from Russia from Vladimir Putin to defend their sovereignty their best interest to do so arguing that if Putin wins he may be embolden to move even further