Kamala Harris is challenging Donald Trump to a debate again. This time, the vice president plans to face her on CNN on October 23, more than a month after early voting began.
She made the announcement on social media, citing a post by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.
RELATED: Kamala Harris wants another debate
I am content to accept a second presidential debate on October 23rd.
I hope @realDonaldTrump will accompany me. https://t.co/Trb8HUBsDh
– Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) 21 September 2024
Everyone knows what that is. CNN, which has already aired one debate this cycle, didn’t just randomly decide to offer another debate after Harris had already declined to appear at the debates offered by Fox News and NBC News. The networks don’t usually host two presidential debates in one cycle anyway.
This is a coordinated move hatched by CNN and the Harris campaign team. CNN wants a counterattack to all the criticism it received for supposedly being too pliable on Trump (i.e. being fair and not constantly interrupting him) in the debate against Joe Biden. No doubt Dana Bash is drooling over the opportunity to show that she can be a complete scribe too. Meanwhile, with Election Day just around the corner, Harris wants one more chance to throw some well-planned punches to build up a little last-minute hype.
Fortunately, Donald Trump acted wisely and told the Vice President where to file her challenge. According to the former president, there will be no third debate.
NO THIRD DEBATE – still the word from Trump’s team:
Senior Consultant @JasonMillerinDC tells me: “Trump’s truth in this matter stands”
“THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!” Trump posted about a week ago.
— Libbey Dean (@LibbeyDean_) 21 September 2024
Trump mentions that Kamala Harris accepted CNN’s invitation to a debate, but says, “It’s just too late.” Doesn’t sound like he wants to do that. pic.twitter.com/p4yBDlQkgC
—Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) 21 September 2024
There are several reasons why this is the right decision. First, Trump has already participated in two debates. No voter in America knows where he stands on the issues. He is the most widely followed candidate in political history, and a debate does nothing to broaden his appeal at this point. At best, it is a chance for him to put on a better performance and land a few punches that no one will remember in two days. Given the risk, there is simply no great reward to be had.
Besides, why on earth would CNN get another debate? We’re talking about the biggest news network with the lowest ratings. CNN shouldn’t be hosting debates, let alone two presidential debates in one cycle. Republicans need to make it clear they’re not going to be pushed around anymore. The debate on ABC News was the most biased and unproductive in recent memory, surpassing even the Candy Crowley debacle of 2012. Enough is enough.
CNN is the lowest-rated major news network. There is no reason to continue to view it as a privileged institution that gets to host multiple presidential debates.
There should be no debates at all on CNN.
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) 21 September 2024
Furthermore, as I noted above, Harris has already skipped two previous debates. She cannot dictate to her opponent that way. If she wanted a second debate, she should have appeared on Fox News. And finally, Trump is right that it is “too late.” Voting has begun. The time for debates is over. Now it’s all about playing the field, not about helping a struggling network like CNN boost its ratings.
