The US Presidential Election remains the tightest of races. It is a contest that will be decided, most likely, by a few hundred or a few thousand votes, here or there, across a slew of 'battleground' states. The chances of either candidate winning by a landslide are beyond remote. The US is a bitterly polarised society where the number of 'moving' votes has shrunk in recent decades.

Harris made a compelling case in tonight's debate and effectively put to rest the disaster that was the first debate between Trump and the ailing Joe Biden. She commanded the material and she commanded Trump, for the most part. The latter was hobnailed by self-inflicted  and unnecessary flights down rabbit holes and a chronic inability to stray on message. 

Trump's capacity to free-range is both his best friend and his worst enemy. In front of adoring crowds it is largely an asset - he can shoot the breeze about anything that comes into his head and nobody minds. In a debate, the structure of the exercise requires a certain discipline and a mastery of the each topic.

But as I said, the margins are very tight and either of these candidates could wake up President on November 6, the morning after.