How should the Dem. nominee respond WHEN Trump refuses to debate this Fall?

[JFlash]

Not if, but when.

Trump is too chickenshit to debate. So, then what? Will the Democratic nominee just let that go and move on? What should his or her strategy be to counter Trump refusing to do what all presidents have done since 1976?

[walkingman]

1. Nothing they can do but call him chickenshit, it will not change any of the deplorables minds anyway

[trueblue2007]

8. The DEM Candidate should participate anyway. The Moderators give the Dem questions

will answer. Thereby letting America see what He or She is made of!!! Do it Dems !!

[0rganism]

15. maybe put a cardboard Trump behind the other podium

at least it won't lie constantly

[trueblue2007]

22. Put this picture up at Trump's podium

[Kota]

2. Come right out and accuse him of not being competant enough.

That he is to old to debate and just isn't mentally fit. We need to go after him on his fitness for the office.

[JFlash]

6. Calling Trump too old is fine, if the nominee is not Bloomberg, Biden or Bernie

Because he'll just say that he's younger than they are. Which misses the point, of course but too many voters are too stupid to grasp that.

[0rganism]

16. call him "low energy"

that seems to be a favorite dig for the cultists so presumably they have an idea of what it means, should really piss them off

[33taw]

3. It depends on who the nominee is. But, I would go to his ego. It is what chaps him the most.

[lame54]

4. Take the stage and hammer him for 2 hours

[TruckFump]

5. This. EOM

[global1]

12. I Second This Suggestion....

Debate an 'empty chair'. Talk for 2 hours as to how if Trump is re-elected he would effect them personally and how having a Dem in the WH would benefit them personally. Point out how Trump has made our lives worse during his first term. Show the string of criminals Trump has surrounded himself with and point out how many of them are in jail. Play the tape recorded on the bus. Bring up all the women that have accused him of assault or rape. Bring up the Stormy Daniels payoff. Play a tape of all the lies he tells.

We could go on and on showing the American People how bad Trump was during his first term and showing them how that will continue to get worse if he is re-elected.

[lame54]

17. He would definitely show up for the next one...

If not
Do it all over again

[Takket]

7. Fly solo

we hold a town hall by ourselves taking questions from people

Such an intimate event with only a polite Democrat giving answers would be devestating for drumpf.

[USALiberal]

9. He will Hold huge rally's on the scheduled debates. Nt

[marlakay]

10. Get a empty chair and do what Clint did

I bet if done right the media would cover it. Advertise the debate, be ready if he shows up but prepared if not.

[Fullduplexxx]

11. Put up a caricature carboard stand up of him ... a big fat bloated blob stand up

Something that would embarrass the shit out of dough boy donny 2 scoops

[tavernier]

19. That's the one.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

13. Debate the "Crying Baby Trump" blimp.

Held down by a weighted sign saying, "I couldn't debate because I have bone spurs."

[Raine1967]

14. The candidate should say they are willing to debate nonetheless.

Let Our candidate say they are willing to take questions from anyone on a national stage debate style. Call his bluff.

[NewJeffCT]

18. Unless he really is declining mentally

I don't think he'll be able to resist being on the big stage performing for tens of millions of viewers.

His team will whine and complain ahead of time to get favorable moderators, but he'll be there for the free TV time.

[nobuddy]

20. He shouldn't get that option

The Dem should refuse to debate him.

Show up, give the opening statement shredding him, then walk off.

[scarytomcat]

21. The old empty chair trick or podium

then take questions and ask questions to the empty chair

[Blue_true]

23. Schedule Town Halls. nt

[W_HAMILTON]

24. Say the American people deserve to hear from their presidential candidates...

...as has been the case for decades. Commit that they will appear at the debate, and then pressure the debate coordinating organization to instead hold a townhall with just the Democratic candidate if they show up to debate and Trump refuses to appear. No separate townhall event for Trump. Either he shows up and debates the Democratic candidate or the Democratic candidate shows up and gets their own townhall.

[Chainfire]

25. You are thinking about this all wrong

If Trump refuses to debate, we simply still hold the debates and let Baldwin fill in for Trump.

[Jersey Devil]

27. In my experience this doesn't work

I was involved in politics on a local level for several years, won local office a few times and managed several campaigns for Mayor and Council in my town. In the years (several) when the Republicans refused to debate, the League of Women Voters, who ran the debates in our town, refused to have any debates if they would not show up for fear of being labeled partisan. I would expect the networks would react the same way.

[LonePirate]

26. Hold a two hour live stream/televised public Q&A session during each night a debate would be held.

Just because 45 isn’t there doesn’t mean our side can’t attend and provide answers for Americans.

[duforsure]

28. Have the debates anyway

Using someone imitating him in his place, Alex Balwin, or Will Ferrall, or others that would make him look like the criminal, serial liar, Putin puppet fool working for Putin that he is. Maybe have a lot of them to pour it on him for being scared to debate, or suggest he has to read out loud, which would also show he's illiterate and can't hardly read , Bloomberg show start making fun of his pitiful reading skills he really has. Take advantage of him if he refuses to participate by making a joke out of him publicly. He really , really hates that.

[JustAnotherGen]

29. The Democratic Candidate

Shows up.

When MF45 doesn't attend - they get to give their opening and closing statement - and the debate is over.

[dawg day]

30. "Coward."

Must have ridiculing memes ready.

[Jose Garcia]

31. He is incapable of passing up an opportunity to appear on TV