New Jersey, US state: Last Tuesday, Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he had “reached an agreement” to debate Kamala Harris on September 10, just two days after threatening to pull out. The debate, hosted by ABC, will follow the same rules as CNN’s June 27 debate—no studio audience and microphones muted when the other candidate speaks. However, Vice President Harris has not yet confirmed her participation under these terms.
Despite his earlier reservations, Trump stated that ABC assured him the debate would be “fair and equitable,” even though he had previously called the network “by far the nastiest and most unfair newscaster in the business.” The Harris campaign, advocating for open microphones throughout the debate, criticized Trump for “shifting the goalposts” and has yet to commit to the proposed format.
Both candidates have shown a preference for unmuted microphones to allow for more substantive exchanges. The Harris campaign expressed disappointment, saying, “It seems Donald Trump is letting his handlers overrule him. Sad!”
The upcoming debate is particularly significant as it follows Harris’s rise as the Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden stepped down following his poor performance in the CNN debate. Meanwhile, Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker warned against underestimating Trump’s debating skills, recalling his past successes against Hillary Clinton and President Biden.
Pritzker emphasized that while Harris is a “tremendous person with great capability,” she should approach the debate with caution. “He’s not to be underestimated,” Pritzker noted, highlighting Trump’s ability to connect with voters through both his answers and body language.
Pollster and political strategist Frank Luntz added that voters will be closely watching the candidates’ demeanor during the debate. He suggested that Trump’s ability to “keep quiet” and “listen to a response” and Harris’s ability to “seem open-minded” will be critical in shaping voter perceptions.
As the debate draws nearer, all eyes will be on how Kamala Harris and Donald Trump perform on stage. With polls indicating a potential advantage for Harris, the event promises to be a pivotal moment in the 2024 US Presidential race.
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