Just a thought. What if Hillary declines to debate the Trumpster?

[BootinUp]

Suppose for a minute that she has a good lead at the end of the summer. Why debate that fool?

[Gomez163]

1. Nixon never debated Humphrey or McGovern. LBJ never debated Goldwater

[tonyt53]

28. Exactly.

[TwilightZone]

2. Because with the GE, it ain't over 'til it's over.

Unlike the primaries, there's little indication of the final result until election day - and sometimes later.

Also, there are indications that up to one-quarter of voters or so don't decide until the last few days to a week.

She'll debate him any opportunity she gets. She'll chew him up and spit him out.

[charlyvi]

3. She would not give him the satisfaction

She will meet him toe to toe.

[BootinUp]

5. I almost think getting on the stage with the fool raises his stature

unnecessarily.

[Hortensis]

8. Satisfaction?! Right. He, or at least his wannabe

handlers would be enormously relieved. There is ZERO chance she would refuse. Lol. on the contrary, she will do all she can to push him into a situation where he can't refuse to serve himself up.

[Cha]

20. lol@the trump weave.. omg

[puffy socks]

4. Because I think she'd hand his caboose to him on a silver platter. nt

[madamesilverspurs]

6. He might be the one to decline.

Even he knows the difference between a real debate and whatever that thing was that he did with 16 other people. Her debating skill would trump his showboating (pun intended).

[BootinUp]

7. He's not going to have a choice methinks.

I expect him to be down significantly in the polls.

[JustAnotherGen]

24. The Secretary of State with every word this *sswipe utters

[MFM008]

9. I hope she doesn't

he is unworthy to stand on a stage next to any serious Presidential candidate.

[Cha]

21. I know what you mean.

[bluestateguy]

10. In this era a candidate could not get away with that

In this era you would owe your opponent at least 2 debates.

In 1984, Reagan was well ahead of Mondale, and he agreed to debate him twice.

In 1996, Bill Clinton was well ahead of Bob Dole and he agreed to debate him twice.

The precedent has been set. If she declined to debate him the media would hack away at it every single day and her poll numbers would drop.

[Tarc]

11. No, I want to see it happen. Can you imagine Trump in a townhall debate?

That's the format where you take audience questions (albeit staged & pre-screened), walk around, and interact like a human being. Trump isn't going to have his A-shirt, trucker-cap regulars to fall back on with hoots and hollers of approval for every "make America great again" platitude.

It'll be a spectacle for the ages.

[B Calm]

12. She will be labeled a coward.

[jmowreader]

13. Hillary has already said she's really looking forward to debating Trump

She can't wait for the day she can tear Trump apart to his face.

[SaschaHM]

14. It would be a serious blunder and she'd be dragged by the press for weeks.

It's become a tradition and the unwillingness to do so looks terrible.

[Blue Idaho]

15. I guess I just don't see the relevance of debating...

especially in today's non-debate debate formats. Today's debates are more about creating "gotcha" monents and zingers rather than highlighting meaningful differences. Add to that - debating isn't even in the skill set for the office of the President and you have an event that has lost all relevance.

I would rather see each candidate face a panel of journalists much like they have to do to get a newspapers endorsement. No preview of questions to be asked, no question off limits, and tough follow up questions. Add some questions submitted online and I think you could have a format that could be really informative.

Today's presidential debates aren't really serving the electorate very well.

[BootinUp]

16. Agreed. nt.

[fleabiscuit]

17. I like that. nt

[SunSeeker]

18. Hillary already said she can't wait to debate Trump. I look forward to her destroying him.

[anotherproletariat]

19. I think it depends on the polls. After Sanders leaves, and the conventions happen,

she could very well have a comfortable lead in the polls. If that is the case, she should consider not having debates.

[JustAnotherGen]

22. I would love it

He is not fit to drink her dirty bath water!

[Her Sister]

23. I think after a couple debates with it'd be OK to refuse but by then Trump will be the one refusing!

[SharonClark]

25. The debates will give the Sanders people a change to reassess Hillary against Trump

And bring them over if they aren't already.

[BootinUp]

27. You might have a good point there. nt

[redstatebluegirl]

26. Of course she will, she will wipe the floor with this idiot!

[Maru Kitteh]

29. I think he'll try to weasel out of debates with her and blame the press

Because he is an orange chicken.

[Koinos]

30. When she's done with him, there won't be enough to recycle.

The cowardly playground bully meets the seasoned prizefighter.

He won't last one round before shrinking to a whimpering pool of pus.

[mainstreetonce]

31. I still think Trump will back out

of debates with .Hillary.