People attend a watch party for the US presidential debate between Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in New York on September 10, 2024.

LEONARDO MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images

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LEONARDO MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images

People attend a watch party for the US presidential debate between Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in New York on September 10, 2024.

LEONARDO MUNOZ/AFP via Getty Images

It may be difficult to remember from where we sit today, but when this presidential campaign began it looked a lot like the last one.

Everything seemed familiar to me except for the candidates. Trump talked about restoring glory, and Biden wanted to restore normalcy to a good and decent United States.

Former President Donald Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden became their parties' presumptive nominees in March, leading to the president's first rematch since 1956.

We all know that sequels are rarely more interesting than the original, and many were frustrated or indifferent to what seemed like a repeat of what we had already seen before.

Anyone with a pulse knows that the last year has been anything but predictable.

And while we can't say what the outcome of this election will be, we can say that Americans have just experienced the most dramatic, eventful and unexpected presidential campaign of our lifetime.

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A last minute substitution

Questions about President Biden's suitability for a second term in the Oval Office had been circulating for months after he accepted the Democratic nomination.

But the June debate in Atlanta between Biden and Trump featured a performance by Biden that sent Democrats into a tailspin. Members of the Democratic Party began calling on Biden to leave. But the president was determined.

Weeks later, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a candid conclusion:

“It’s up to the president to decide whether to run. We all encourage him to make this decision because time is running out.”

Then, as Democrats wrung their hands, a major event rocked the Trump campaign when a suspected assassin targeted the former president as he stood on stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A bullet grazed Trump's ear, killing one participant and critically wounding two others.

As Republicans fervently gathered around their leader and wore earbands to show their support, Biden was sidelined because of COVID.

Finally, on July 21, the president posted on social media that he was ending his campaign.

He offered “full support and support” to Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s nominee and reiterated the decision in a formal address two days later.

A post-Biden race

Harris would have the shortest runway of any presidential campaign in modern history. She would have to introduce herself to voters, explain a political agenda, contrast with Trump and also select a candidate to run for office.

On August 16, she announced her choice in Philadelphia: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D).

A few days later, the Democratic Convention in Chicago came with a rush of adrenaline as the party celebrated the first woman of color to lead the Democratic nomination.

The first and only debate between the two presidential candidates took place on September 10 in New York City.

They discussed political positions – including those on the economy.

Trump had a view:

“The polls say 80 and 85 and even 90 percent that Trump's economy was great, that their (Democrats') economy was terrible.”

Harris had another:

“Donald Trump has no plan for you. And if you look at his economic plan, it's all about tax breaks for the richest people. I offer what I call an opportunity economy.”

Trump also spread a false claim about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, saying they eat people's pets.

That led to weeks of threats and violence against the Springfield community.

And just five days later, Trump was golfing when his life was put in danger again when Secret Service agents discovered an armed man lurking at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

He didn't fire and Trump wasn't hurt.

There is of course more to tell. Listen to the full episode of Consider this to remind you why your blood pressure has been so unusually high over the past year.

This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink. It was edited by Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.