WASHINGTON—Will big bully and convicted felon Donald Trump duck his planned presidential candidates’ debate with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris? On his self-named Truth Social platform, the answer seems to be “yes.”
“I watched ABC FAKE NEWS this morning, both lightweight reporter Jonathan Carl’s(K?) ridiculous and biased interview of Tom Cotton (who was fantastic!), and their so-called Panel of Trump Haters, and I ask, why would I do the Debate against Kamala Harris on that network?” Trump wrote there.
He also claimed, with no evidence, that somebody from ABC could tip off Harris to the questions, pre-debate.
The Harris-Trump debate that Donald is ducking is scheduled for September 10 in Philadelphia. One dispute over that showdown and following debates, if there are any, is the presence of a studio audience. The two sides don’t agree on that, nor have they agreed to further debates.
Trump demands a crowd he can pack with his supporters and that the second debate, if there is one, should air on Fox “News,” his outlet. He also charges Harris wanted both to be seated and to have written opening statements—charges her side denies.
ABC, which will host the debate, confirmed both candidates agreed to stand at podiums and to have no notes. That’s what Democratic President Joe Biden and Trump did earlier this year.
That still leaves the issue of “hot mics.” When Trump or Biden spoke at their debate, his foe’s mic was muted. Harris wants hot mics at all times. Trump’s staff wants the September debate played by the prior debate’s rules, including muted mics.
Harris wants live mics
“We have told ABC and other networks seeking to host a possible October debate that we believe both candidates’ mics should be live throughout the full broadcast,” Harris communications adviser Brian Fallon told Politico.
“Our understanding is Trump’s handlers prefer the muted microphone because they don’t think their candidate can act presidential for 90 minutes on his own. We suspect Trump’s team has not even told their boss about this dispute because it would be too embarrassing to admit they don’t think he can handle himself against Vice President Harris without the benefit of a mute button.”
When Trump debated Biden four years ago, both mics were supposed to be muted but Trump kept overriding the moderators and the mics. That prompted repeated “C’mon, man,” comments from Biden.
A senior Harris adviser elaborated for Politico: “She’s more than happy to have exchanges with him if he tries to interrupt her. Given how shaken he seems by her, he’s very prone to having intemperate outbursts. I think the campaign would want viewers to hear [that].”
As the two sides continue to debate the debates, Trump picked up the endorsement of Robert F, Kennedy Jr., eldest son of the senator.
Kennedy Jr., 70, is eight years younger than Trump and 11 years older than Harris. He started this year as a Democrat challenging Biden in the primaries, but his big backers were moneyed Republicans, many attracted to him because of his ardent support for numerous conspiracy theories and because of his anti-vaccine crusades. With the Democratic path blocked, and with the rest of the Kennedys backing Biden, RFK Jr. switched to an independent candidacy. On August 23, after begging the convicted felon for a job if he wins the election, he endorsed Trump.
Kennedy’s on the ballot in many states, but polls showed he had no path to an electoral college victory and, of course, no chance to win the White House. His support is dropping like a rock and is now down to 2 percent in at least one opinion poll. Kennedy said Trump and he agreed on several key issues, including opposing coronavirus and other vaccines.
Tea-leaf readers are split on the impact, especially since Kennedy says he’ll try to stay on the ballot in states where a vote for him won’t make a difference—and take himself off the ballot in swing states where he admits he could play a spoiler’s role. “I’m going to be campaigning actively,” he told Fox News Sunday.
The top swing target may be Florida, which was safely in Trump’s column, state polls showed until Harris replaced Biden at the top of the ticket. Trump still leads in the Sunshine State, but after Harris clinched the nomination, before the Democratic Convention, his lead was down to 5%.
Trump welcomed Kennedy’s endorsement, calling him “a great man.” Some news reports said Kennedy traded the endorsement for a top job in any coming Trump administration. Kennedy’s siblings didn’t welcome RFK Jr’s. move. They’re going with Harris.
His sister, Kerry Kennedy, told MSNBC’s Jen Psaki “If my dad were alive today, the real Robert Kennedy would have detested almost everything that Trump represents. And I completely disavow and separate, dissociate myself from Robert Kennedy Jr. and his flagrant efforts to trample my father’s memory.”
Between RFK Jr. and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Trump’s vice-presidential running mate, it is difficult to tell who is less popular. Vance, trying to show he is an ordinary down-to-earth guy, had a video done of a recent trip he made to buy donuts in a bakery. He had to tell the young man behind the counter that he was running for vice president since he was not recognized by the youth who, unimpressed, responded by asking him what donuts he wanted.
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