Welcome to Countdown 2024 ... where election day is just 55 days away and fast approaching.  We've got a packed show for you today, with debate reaction coming up from the chair of the California Democratic Party and a Republican National Committee spokeswoman ... after that, we welcome California's senior U.S. Senator Alex Padilla.

But first let's take a quick lap around the political world!

-The first ... and possibly ONLY debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump ... drew a significantly higher audience than Trump's debate with Joe Biden back in June.  It's estimated that nearly 60 million Americans across cable and network channels watched the Vice President and former president square off on ABC.  

And, interestingly, the major metro markets with the biggest audience shares came in one key swing state:  Philadelphia & Pittsburgh were the two cities with the most TV's tuned to the debate last night.

-As of now there are no further scheduled debates ... but today Kamala Harris's campaign agreed to debate once more on Fox News.  Donald Trump, however, didn't sound too eager to rush back to the debate stage.

-A good night got even better for Kamala Harris ... when arguably the biggest music star in the world ... Taylor Swift ... endorsed her campaign for the presidency.  Calling her a "steady-handed, gifted leader," Swift made her endorsement in an Instagram post ... that was accompanied by a picture of the pop superstar with her cat ... and signed her post "Childless Cat Lady."

Guests on today's COUNTDOWN:

-Rusty Hicks is chair of the California Democratic Party

-Elizabeth Pipko is the national spokesperson for the Republican National Committee

-Sen. Alex Padilla, California's senior U.S. Senator