Former President Donald Trump was set to debate President Biden, but Biden suspended his campaign faced with skepticism about his ability to handle the job for another term. The debate is now between Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump, moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis. The debate will take place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, a battleground state, with the two candidates currently tied in the polls. The rules for the debate were a point of contention, with issues on microphone muting and crosstalk handling. The debate format will include time limits for responses and no questions from one candidate to the other.
The coin flip determined the positioning on stage and the order of closing statements, with Trump winning the coin toss and choosing the last closing statement. Harris chose the lectern on the left, giving Trump the right side from viewers’ perspective. Both candidates will have time limits for responses, no prewritten notes, and limited interaction with campaign staff during breaks. The campaign staff were pleased with the rules finally being accepted after some debate on the format. The debate will cover any topic, with networks not revealing potential topics in advance.
The debate will air on multiple networks and streaming services, including ABC News Live, Disney+, Hulu, and CBS News. It will also be available on CBSNews.com. The 90-minute debate will end at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with two commercial breaks included. The only other scheduled debate before the election is between the vice presidential nominees, with a potential for one more debate between Harris and Trump in October. The details for the potential rematch debate between the two candidates have not been finalized.
Overall, the debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is expected to be a significant event in the election campaign. The rules and format of the debate have been agreed upon after some negotiation between the campaigns and the network. The debate will cover a wide range of topics, with no predetermined list of subjects. Viewers can watch the debate on various platforms, including cable and online streaming services. The outcome of the debate could have a significant impact on the election, with both candidates vying for voter support in a crucial battleground state.
