City Buzz: The Upcoming Presidential Debate Drama
As the countdown to the highly anticipated presidential debate on September 10 heats up, drama is brewing between the campaigns of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. With only a mere 15 days left, it turns out that the two sides canโt quite agree on one critical issue: the microphone situation.
The Background Story
Back in June, an agreement was reached between President Joe Bidenโs campaign and Trumpโs people for two big debates, the first being on June 27 and the second coming up on ABC on September 10. A major part of that agreement was that each candidateโs microphone would be muted when it wasn’t their turn to speak. This was a measure aimed at keeping the debate more organized and focused. However, things got complicated when Biden withdrew from the race, and the Harris campaign stepped in, wanting to switch things up.
Mic Check – Or Not?
Harris’ team is pushing to have both candidatesโ microphones โhotโ at all timesโ during the debate. They argue that this is standard practice for presidential debates, allowing for a more organic back-and-forth exchange. Brian Fallon, a senior advisor on Harris’ team, made it clear that they believe Trump’s crew wants muted mics because they doubt Trump can keep it together for a full 90-minute debate without cutting in. He even suggested that Trumpโs team hasn’t shared this situation with him since it would be embarrassing to admit they think he needs help against Harris.
Whatโs at Stake?
Behind the scenes, Harrisโ campaign thinks she can get Trump flustered enough to blurt out something controversial, potentially swaying viewersโ opinions. โSheโs ready to engage with him if he tries to interrupt her,โ shared one individual close to the negotiations. The belief is that Harris can handle Trumpโs interruptions and that he might not be able to keep his cool in a hot-mic scenario.
Trump’s Camp Responds
On the flip side, Trump’s team is calling out the Harris campaign for what they see as a โbait and switch.โ They want the debate to follow the same rules that were set up for the June debate, rather than changing things now. Jason Miller, a senior adviser for Trump, stated, โEnough with the games. We accepted the ABC debate under the same terms as the CNN debate.โ He wasnโt holding back on pointing fingers, stating that if Harris is struggling to remember lines, perhaps thatโs on her team.
Getting Closer to the Date
Interestingly enough, Trump expressed during a recent event that he would prefer rules similar to what was already agreed upon but added that it wasnโt a big deal if it changed. However, some are interpreting his comments as a nod to the idea of keeping the microphones live, even if Trump doesnโt officially say so.
Where Do We Stand?
As it stands, there seems to be no easy resolution in sight for the microphone situation. The Harris campaign previously reached out to ABC regarding the terms, letting them know that they expect to negotiate the rulesโsomething that is becoming clearer with every day that ticks by. In this political chess match, the back-and-forth is on full display, and it appears that the debateโs current framework might be far from settled.
The Debate Countdown
So, while we’ve got just over two weeks until the debate, it seems like the political games are just getting started. As these two campaigns navigate their way through these negotiations, itโs clear that this is about much more than just who gets to talk. Itโs about presentation, strategy, and each candidateโs attempt to show the world they can handle the heat of the debate stage.
As we all gear up for this televised showdown, one thingโs for sure: it’s going to be quite a show.
