Campaigns spar over muting microphones

The campaigns of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are embroiled in a debate over microphone rules for their upcoming encounter next month. The Harris campaign is advocating for both candidates’ microphones to remain live throughout the debate, ensuring uninterrupted dialogue.

Conversely, the Trump campaign seeks to adhere to previously agreed-upon rules from Joe Biden’s candidacy, which involved muting microphones when the other candidate was speaking. The debate, set for September 10, is under scrutiny, with Trump questioning the network’s impartiality and hinting he might not participate.

Reports indicate an escalating stalemate in negotiations, as the Harris campaign pushes for a format allowing real-time interruptions. Senior communications adviser for the Harris campaign, Brian Fallon, emphasized that the vice president is prepared for Trump’s interruptions and is against relying on the mute button.

While Trump expressed a preference for open microphones, he acknowledged that muting had worked well during his debate with Biden. He also claimed that Harris is attempting to evade the debate, criticizing her debating skills.

The Trump campaign stressed their commitment to the original debate rules, refuting the Harris campaign’s claims of requesting changes. They criticized her team for proposing conditions like a seated debate with note-taking, insisting on adherence to their original agreement.

In a recent social media post, Trump raised concerns about bias among the debate moderators, questioning whether they would provide questions in advance. This isn’t the first time Trump hinted at withdrawing from a debate, as he previously stated he would only engage in one hosted by a specific network before backtracking.

As the November 5 election approaches, the Harris campaign reports a remarkable $540 million in fundraising since Biden’s exit, while the Trump campaign has raised $138.7 million in July and retains $327 million on hand.