When Democrats talk about Tuesday night's presidential debate, one tack employed by Kamala Harris keeps coming up: How she successfully baited former President Trump over and over again.

On his rallies. On his criminal trials. On world leaders calling him a “disgrace.”

Time and again, Trump fell into Harris's traps, spiraling off message and going off on tangents.

Instead of spending more time attacking Harris on inflation or her own shifting positions, Trump found himself defending the size of his rallies and the enthusiasm of his fans. He often appeared irritated or angry, and at one point began railing over unsubstantiated reports about immigrants eating dogs and cats.

“The ground is rich and he is completely susceptible to it,” said Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons, who served as Harris's communications director until last year. “It's almost like someone throwing out toys for a cat.”

“You keep making those points and he gets consumed in them and it's a day lost for him. And eventually, you run out of days.”

Harris allies say they expect Harris to continue to employ the tactic even if there is no second debate between the candidates. Trump on Thursday said he would not hold a second debate with Harris.

On Wednesday, her campaign posted on Twitter the entirety of the debate, a move that seemed to both troll and bait the former president into a fight that Harris want to have.

The Democratic National Committee plans to run an ad........

© The Hill