Commission: 2nd Trump-Biden debate will be 'virtual' amid concerns about Trump's COVID-19

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP



WASHINGTON (AP) — The second debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will take place virtually amid the fallout from the president’s diagnosis of COVID-19, the debate commission announced Thursday. The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates cited a need “to protect the health and safety of all involved with the second presidential debate.” The candidates will “participate from separate remote locations” while the participants and moderator remain in Miami, it said. The announcement comes a week before Biden and Trump were scheduled to face off in Miami.

Trump was diagnosed with the coronavirus a week ago and but in a Tuesday tweet said he looked forward to debating Biden on stage in Miami, “It will be great!” he tweeted.Biden, for his part, said he and Trump “shouldn’t have a debate” as long as the president remains COVID positive. Biden told reporters in Pennsylvania that he was “looking forward to being able to debate him” but said “we’re going to have to follow very strict guidelines.”

Trump fell ill with the virus last Thursday, just 48 hours after debating Biden in person for the first time in Cleveland. While the two candidates remained a dozen feet apart during the debate, Trump’s infection sparked health concerns for Biden and sent him to undergo multiple COVID-19 tests before returning to the campaign trail.

Trump was still contagious with the virus when he was discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday but his doctors have not provided any detailed update on his status. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 can be contagious for as many as — and should isolate for at least — 10 days. There was no immediate reaction from either campaign to the news of the new format, which came as the debate commission was already considering changes to the structure of the debate after a chaotic first meeting between the two candidates.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-joe-biden-donald-trump-archive-47938faf487760963c96fffb41d7458c

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This is just breaking all over including live on cable news and now the print media outlets.

Original article and link -

11 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Commission: 2nd Trump-Biden debate will be 'virtual' amid concerns about Trump's COVID-19.

https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-health-ap-news-alert-lung-disease-diseases-and-conditions-a6ad568375d66a91acc13d894150b2c1

[rurallib]

1. I am guessing it will also be easier to control Trump's microphone therefore.

[Siwsan]

2. Hopefully but trump*'s campaign may have demanded that they don't.

It's his only game.

[rurallib]

12. Can they do that? Seems like most 'debate' rules say that participants

will only speak during allotted times --

one set of rules for Trump and one set for the rest of the world

[Siwsan]

14. Guess it's a moot point, now, but going ahead that should be a mandatory rule.

I kind of doubt trump* will be doing any more debates because there might possibly be something else behind his dropping out.

[Inablueway]

3. This is a win for Biden

Trump won't have free reign to roam a stage or a crowd to play to. Trump is a terrible speaker even when external conditions favor him. Now, they need to give the moderator the ability to cut off his mic while Biden is speaking.

Most importantly, this keeps Biden safe from the infected orange guy.

[ananda]

4. Thank goodness!

Last night's debate should have been virtual.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. I just added AP's updated article

[ananda]

10. Thanks

Trump prefers nuremburg rallies anyway.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. I wouldn't be surprised if he has a "Pope-style" event where he stands in the large portico

at the WH and addresses some "massive" crowd assembled on the South Lawn to listen to the sound and fury signifying nothing, that will generate another super-spreader event.

[ananda]

15. A great visual arises out of the mist of Covid in the air...

Thanks

[durablend]

6. CNN has on their "breaking news"

"Trump says he won't participate in 2nd presidential debate that will be held virtually."

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Got the LBN on that from WaPo too

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142599797

[gab13by13]

8. That's good news for Joe,

he is ahead, he has nothing to gain by more debates.

[apnu]

9. Why do they even bother with debates?

Nobody sticks to the questions, there is no display of stances on issues or policies.

Plus we all know Trump won't stick to the rules. Pence didn't either until Kamala barked at him with the "I'm pissed mamala voice and death stare"

[BumRushDaShow]

11. She did give him "the look"

[Baclava]

16. Trump just backed out! Caesar shaking his little fists of rage!

Trump says he won't participate in next debate after commission announces it will be virtual

https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/08/politics/second-presidential-debate-virtual/index.html