In a recent reversal, Vice President Kamala Harris has agreed to adhere to the original debate terms for an upcoming televised event on ABC News.
The debate will uphold strict standards, including no notes, no sitting, no audience presence, and muted microphones for non-speaking candidates, Breitbart reported.
Initially, Kamala Harris pushed for changes to the previously agreed-upon debate rules. Her campaign requested that microphones remain open throughout the debate, speculating that this move responded to the anniversary of the Afghan withdrawal.
Despite her efforts, the debate organizers declined Harris’s proposals. The conditions, reaffirmed this Tuesday, mandate that candidates stand, use no prepared notes, and speak only when their microphone is activated.
Both the Trump and Harris campaigns initially accepted the agreement weeks ago. However, the Harris campaign’s request for changes led to a brief negotiation.
An aide from the Trump campaign told Breitbart News, "The Harris campaign caved on Tuesday and decided to go along with its previously agreed debate rules with no notes, no sitting, no audience, and no open microphones."
During President Joe Biden's campaign, the idea of muting microphones emerged to prevent interruptions and ensure that only the candidate speaking has the floor. CNN reported Biden’s insistence on this feature in June, and the debate on June 27 followed these standards, setting a precedent.
The rule aims to reduce interruptions and create a more structured debate environment and will strictly apply to the upcoming event.
Additionally, a coin toss at 12:30 pm on the debate day will determine the order of closing arguments and the placement of podiums, ensuring a fair setup for all participants.
The Harris camp requested open microphones, viewing it as a strategic move based on past debate interactions. An unnamed source told Politico Playbook that Harris aimed to highlight potential weaknesses in her opponent’s decorum.
She’s more than happy to have exchanges with him if he tries to interrupt her. And given how shook he seems by her, he’s very prone to having intemperate outbursts and … I think the campaign would want viewers to hear [that].
Former President Donald Trump criticized the debate arrangement, saying: “I have reached an agreement with the Radical Left Democrats for a Debate with Comrade Kamala Harris. It will be Broadcast Live on ABC FAKE NEWS, by far the nastiest and most unfair newscaster in the business, on Tuesday, September 10th, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."
The debate scheduled for September 10 is set to attract significant viewership. Discussions about the debate parameters have heightened public interest and anticipation for the exchanges between Vice President Harris and the Trump campaign representative. As the date approaches, the focus shifts to how these rules will shape the debate’s dynamics and each candidate's strategies. The strict regulations aim to streamline the discussion, focusing solely on the candidates' responses and policies.
In conclusion, the ABC News debate will proceed under stringent regulations, featuring Vice President Kamala Harris and a senior Trump campaign figure in what promises to be a highly scrutinized event.
