Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to meet in Philadelphia for their first and potentially only debate before the November presidential election. The upcoming debate comes at a crucial point in the election season, with a new CBS News poll showing a tight race between the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees in key battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Originally scheduled to be the second meeting between Trump and President Biden, Mr. Biden’s decision to drop out of the race led to Harris accepting the Democratic presidential nomination at the party’s convention last month.
Leading up to the debate, there has been debate between the two campaigns over the rules. Harris’ campaign pushed for microphones to be on throughout the debate, while Trump insisted on following the same rules as the first face-off, where microphones were only active when a candidate was speaking. Eventually, muted microphones were agreed upon after Harris’ campaign accepted the rules set by ABC, although they expressed concerns that the format would disadvantage her. The debate will run for 90 minutes, hosted by ABC’s David Muir and Linsey Davis, with both candidates standing behind podiums and not allowed to bring any props or prewritten notes on stage.
Both candidates have been preparing for the debate in different ways, with Harris participating in mock debates in Pittsburgh and Trump reviewing policy positions with advisers informally. This ABC-hosted debate is the only one that both candidates have agreed to so far, with Trump suggesting a total of three debates and Harris agreeing to only one so far. There is a possibility of one more debate in October being agreed upon by Harris’ campaign. The debate will be simulcast on TV networks, including ABC and CBS, and can also be streamed online on various platforms.
The debate between Trump and Harris is highly anticipated and will be closely watched by viewers across the country. Scheduled to take place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the event will begin at 9 p.m. ET with coverage and analysis starting at 5 p.m. ET with “America Decides” on CBS News 24/7. Viewers can watch the debate on ABC, CBS, and various online streaming platforms such as ABC News Live, Disney+, and Hulu. Trump’s criticisms of the ABC debate hosts have raised concerns about his participation, but he is expected to take part in the event.
Overall, the upcoming debate between Trump and Harris will provide voters with the opportunity to hear from both candidates on important issues facing the country. With the election just weeks away, this debate could have a significant impact on voters’ decisions. As the two candidates prepare to face off in this critical debate, the stakes are high, and the outcome could potentially sway undecided voters in key battleground states. The debate will offer a glimpse into each candidate’s plans and policies for the future, giving voters valuable insight before casting their ballots in November.
