Image credits - CNN
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ABC News has unveiled the rules for the highly anticipated debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, scheduled for September 10. The guidelines, shared with both campaigns, include several significant restrictions: no live microphones when candidates aren’t speaking, no audience, and no written notes.
A senior Trump campaign official provided a copy of the rules to the Associated Press, noting that they closely mirror the parameters set for the June debate between Trump and President Joe Biden. This format, which led to a contentious debate performance, will now be used for Harris and Trump’s matchup, potentially the only direct confrontation between the candidates before the November election.
Harris’ campaign has expressed ongoing concerns about the muting of microphones, arguing that live mics would allow for more dynamic and substantive exchanges between the candidates. Harris’ spokesperson Ian Sams criticized the decision, questioning why Trump’s team insists on muting despite Trump’s own preference for live mics.
The debate will take place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and will be moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis. Candidates will stand behind lecterns without the ability to make opening statements or use notes during the 90-minute event.
This format has drawn comparisons to the June debate between Trump and Biden, where microphone muting was a contentious issue. Biden’s campaign had insisted on this rule, a decision some now regret as it limited voters’ exposure to Trump’s responses.
Trump’s team initially dismissed Harris’ inclusion in the debate, suggesting she sought a debate format with notes and opening statements—claims Harris’ campaign denied. The forthcoming debate is expected to be a pivotal moment in the campaign, with both sides closely watching the impact of these rules on their candidates’ performances.