Vice President Kamala Harris has officially accepted an invitation to participate in a presidential debate on October 23, just weeks ahead of the pivotal November election.
In contrast, former President Donald Trump announced to his supporters that he would not take part in the debate, declaring it “too late” to engage.
The previous debate between the two took place in Philadelphia on September 10, where Harris and Trump exchanged strong critiques of one another.
The upcoming debate is set to follow a similar format to a June debate involving President Joe Biden, which analysts noted was largely favorable to Trump.
Jen O’Malley Dillon, the campaign chair for Harris-Walz, emphasized the importance of another debate opportunity for voters. “It would be unprecedented in modern history for there to just be one general election debate,” she remarked. “Debates provide a vital platform for voters to evaluate the candidates’ contrasting visions for America.”
Harris expressed her willingness to debate, eagerly hoping for Trump’s participation as well. Despite indicating after the September debate that he would not engage in further discussions, Trump referenced his prior victory at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina. He contended that “voting has already started,” suggesting Harris was requesting another debate as her campaign falters.
At the rally, some audience members expressed support for a second debate, but with specific stipulations regarding the moderation. One supporter suggested that a debate should occur on a platform chosen by Trump, specifically calling for a popular podcaster to serve as moderator.
National polling data indicates that Harris maintains a slight lead over Trump, with recent snap polls showing a favorable view of her performance in the earlier debate. Furthermore, many national polls have reflected a modest increase in support for Harris in the weeks following that encounter.
As the candidates prepare for more potential clashes, they have been known to deliver sharp critiques of one another, with Trump branding Harris a “radical left liberal,” while Harris has mocked Trump’s rally sizes and quoted his own critics within the Republican Party.
Debate discussions continue to heat up, as major news entities have also extended invitations for further debates ahead of the election, including one in Arizona.
