Trump Calls To Move Up Debate Date Due To Early Voting

TOPLINE

In a tweet posted Thursday, President Trump called for the date of the first presidential debate to be moved up because voters are casting their ballots early due to the pandemic, one day after his campaign formally issued a request for a debate date change and as Trump campaign officials continue to baselessly accuse Joe Biden of ducking the debates.

KEY FACTS

Crucial quote

“Simply put, the Commission’s current approach is an outdated dinosaur and not reflective of voting realities in 2020,” Giuliani wrote in his letter. 

Key background

As part of a ploy to paint Biden as a mentally unstable candidate who won’t leave his basement, Trump campaign staff have alleged the former vice president is dodging the chance to debate Trump. Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump campaign, told Axios the campaign is “convinced”  Biden will “try to weasel out of debates” after canceling his in-person convention speech in Wisconsin. Several political commentators have suggested Biden should not debate Trump, arguing the president will break the rules. But Biden campaign staff have stated repeatedly Biden is committed to debating the president.  

Chief critic

“Whatever you do, don’t debate Trump,” former Clinton White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart wrote in an op-ed on CNN, adding it would be “a fool’s errand to enter the ring with someone who can’t follow the rules or the truth.”

What to watch for 

The Trump campaign is also petitioning for a fourth debate, though it’s not clear if Biden would agree to one. 

Further reading

Exclusive: Trump campaign seeks early September presidential debate (Axios)

Some People Don’t Want Biden To Debate Trump – Biden Isn’t One Of Them (Forbes)

Trump campaign wants a fourth debate with Biden added in early September (Washington Post)

The world has shown it’s possible to avert Covid-caused election meltdowns. But the U.S. is unique. (Politico)