President Biden is open to debating former President Donald J. Trump at least twice before the election, potentially starting as early as June. However, his campaign has decided to bypass the nonpartisan organization that has overseen presidential debates since 1988, as per a letter obtained by The New York Times.
The letter from the Biden campaign outlines the president’s conditions for engaging in a televised showdown with Mr. Trump, whom he has been depicted as too weak to lead by his predecessor. In response, Mr. Trump promptly accepted the proposed debate dates put forth by the Biden campaign, though it remains uncertain if he will agree to all of Mr. Biden’s terms.
Mr. Biden and his team are pushing for the debates to commence sooner than the dates set by the Commission on Presidential Debates. They advocate for a setup within a TV studio with automatic microphone cutoffs to ensure a fair exchange between the two candidates and the moderator, excluding any disruptive in-person audiences that Mr. Trump thrives on. Additionally, independent or third-party candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are to be excluded.
The Biden campaign’s offer represents a strategic move to revamp the president’s standing in the polls, where he currently trails Mr. Trump in battleground states and faces challenges in conveying his effectiveness as a leader and economic steward.
By declining to participate in the three general-election debates organized by the commission and opting for debates hosted by news outlets instead, Mr. Biden aims to engage in more direct negotiations with networks and potentially, with the Trump team for the upcoming debates.
The proposal includes a suggestion for the first debate to take place in late June, post Mr. Trump’s New York trial, and after Mr. Biden’s return from the Group of 7 summit. A second debate is proposed for early September to influence early voting without disrupting the campaign trail in late September and October.
The Biden campaign’s emphasis on early debates stems from the significance of early votes, particularly for Democrats. The strategy mirrors the 2020 election, where early voting played a crucial role in Mr. Biden’s victory.
The decision to bypass the commission and set forth specific debate conditions offers advantages to Mr. Biden. By limiting the number of debates to two and proposing a controlled studio setting without a live audience, the Biden campaign aims to create a more focused and orderly exchange between the candidates.
Furthermore, the Biden campaign’s criteria for debate moderators and network selection aim to ensure a fair and balanced platform for the debates. The absence of an audience may pose a challenge for Mr. Trump, who typically thrives on crowd reactions during debates and town halls.
Overall, the Biden campaign’s debate proposal signifies a departure from traditional debate formats and a strategic effort to present Mr. Biden in a more controlled and favorable light compared to his predecessor.
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