Kamala Harris has accused Donald Trump of “backpedaling” on a previously scheduled presidential debate, as the Trump campaign has demanded that final plans be delayed until Harris is officially confirmed as the Democratic nominee. The debate, initially planned for September 10 and hosted by ABC News, has become a point of contention between the two campaigns.
Speaking to reporters after a trip to Indiana and Texas, Harris expressed her readiness to face Trump on stage. “I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on the debate stage,” she said, emphasizing her eagerness to participate.
The planned debate was one of two originally agreed upon between Joe Biden and Trump. The first debate, hosted by CNN on June 27, was marked by what many critics considered a lackluster performance by Biden, which intensified concerns about his suitability for a second term. This ultimately led to Biden withdrawing from the race and endorsing Harris as his successor. The Democrats have since consolidated around Harris, who recently secured enough delegate support to become the presumptive nominee. She is expected to formally accept the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in mid-August.
However, Trump’s campaign has indicated that it will not finalize debate details until Harris is officially nominated. “General election debate details cannot be finalized until Democrats formally decide on their nominee,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s campaign communications director, adding that scheduling debates with Harris would be premature given the possibility of a change in the Democratic nomination.
Trump has expressed a preference for moving the debate to Fox News but has indicated willingness to participate in multiple debates with Harris. Republican consultant Alex Conant suggested that the debate could be pivotal. “It’s the only time voters really tune in,” he noted.
This year’s campaign has underscored the potential impact of debates on voter perception. Biden’s poor performance in the June debate significantly weakened his standing within the Democratic Party and accelerated his decision to exit the race.
The debate dispute highlights the heightened stakes of this election cycle and sets the stage for what promises to be a contentious and closely watched contest.
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