Anew candidate means a new debate matchup, but whether or not former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will faceoff on TV is up for debate itself.
The Republican candidate had agreed to three debates against President Joe Biden before the sitting president bowed out of the race last month and endorsed Harris to represent the Democratic Party.
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Trump emerged victorious in first June 27 debate, which escalated concerns about Biden’s ability to carry out a second term and win reelection. The president began facing scrutiny from several figures in his own party calling on him to step down, right up until he decided to do so on July 21.
Since Biden’s exit, Harris quickly garnered the support of Democratic leaders and her campaign raised over $126 million in three days. The former U.S. senator of California also secured the number of delegates required to become the Democratic nominee and is expected to do so at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago scheduled for Aug. 19-22.
Here’s what to know about a possible Harris vs. Trump clash on the debate stage before Election Day.
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When is the next presidential debate?
ABC News originally planned to host the second presidential debate on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m. ET, but with Biden out of the race the status of the debate remains unclear.
Do Trump and Harris qualify for the debate?
According to ABC News’ rules, Trump and Harris must receive at least 15% support in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters in order to participate in the next debate.
Third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. would also have to reach this requirement, though his approval numbers have mainly averaged around half that percentage, and he failed to qualify for the first debate hosted by CNN.
The candidates must also agree to ABC News’ rules for the debate, which have not yet been publicly released.
The candidates are also required meet the Constitution’s requirements to serve as president by appearing on a sufficient amount of state ballots to attain a majority of electoral votes during the election.
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Why wont Trump debate Harris?
Trump has explained that his delay in agreeing to the debate is due to his distain for ABC News as the host network. He has recently expressed a desire for Fox News to host the debate instead.
The former president previously said he wanted to debate Harris and had agreed to the Sept. 10 debate with Biden.
On July 25, Trump’s campaign communications director Steven Cheung said it’s premature to schedule a debate with Harris until it becomes certain she will represent Democrats as the party’s nominee.
“Given the continued political chaos surrounding Crooked Joe Biden and the Democrat Party, general election debate details cannot be finalized until Democrats formally decide on their nominee,” Cheung said in a statement. “There is a strong sense by many in the Democrat Party . . . that Kamala Harris is a Marxist fraud who cannot beat President Trump, and they are still holding out for someone ‘better.’ Therefore, it would be inappropriate to schedule things with Harris because Democrats very well could still change their minds.”
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What has Harris said about debating Trump?
Kamala Harris made it clear she’s ready to debate Trump when speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on July 25.
“I have agreed to the previously agreed upon Sept. 10 debate. He agreed to that previously. Now, it appears he is backpedaling but I’m ready,” Harris said. “I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on a debate stage. Let’s go.”
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At a Tuesday rally in Atlanta, Georgia, the vice president challenged Trump to debate her in front of thousands of supporters. She also criticized Trump and his vice president pick − U.S. Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio − for recent digs made at her.
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“He and his running mate sure have a lot to say about me and by the way don’t you mind some of their stuff to be plain weird. Well Donald I do hope you’ll reconsider to meet me on the debate stage because as the saying goes if you got something to say, say it to my face,” Harris said.
