Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to meet in Philadelphia on Tuesday for their first debate before the November presidential election. This highly anticipated match-up comes at a crucial point in the election season, with a new CBS News poll showing the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees locked in tight races in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
The debate, hosted by ABC News, was initially supposed to be the second meeting between Trump and President Biden. However, Mr. Biden’s decision in late July to bow out of the race set off a series of events that culminated with Harris accepting the Democratic presidential nomination at the party’s convention last month.
Leading up to the debate, there has been significant back-and-forth 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 that were in place for his previous debate with Mr. Biden. Ultimately, muted microphones prevailed after Harris’ campaign accepted the rules set forth by ABC, though they expressed concerns about being “fundamentally disadvantaged” by the format.
The debate is scheduled to run for 90 minutes and will be moderated by ABC’s David Muir and Linsey Davis. Both candidates will stand behind podiums and are not allowed to bring props or prewritten notes on stage. There will be no public audience in the room, but ABC is allowing other TV networks to simulcast the debate.
In the days leading up to the debate, Harris has been preparing in Pittsburgh, participating in extended mock debates before arriving in Philadelphia. Trump, on the other hand, has been going over policy positions with advisers, although his preparations have been described as informal.
This ABC-hosted debate is the only one that both Harris and Trump have agreed to participate in so far. While Trump proposed a total of three debates, with the other two hosted by Fox News and NBC News, Harris has only agreed to Tuesday’s debate and has indicated she may be open to one more in October. Trump has also hinted at the possibility of pulling out of the ABC debate while criticizing its hosts, but he seems likely to participate.
For those interested in watching the presidential debate between Trump and Harris, here are the details:
– What: Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump participate in their first debate
– Date: Tuesday, September 10
– Time: The debate begins at 9 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. PT. Coverage and analysis start at 5 p.m. ET with “America Decides” on CBS News 24/7.
– Location: The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia
– TV Coverage: ABC and simulcast on CBS television and streaming platforms
As the nation eagerly awaits this historic debate between two prominent political figures, the outcome could have a significant impact on the upcoming election. Stay tuned for updates and analysis following this pivotal event.
