Trump team seeks 4th debate with Biden, cites voting by mail [View all]
President Donald Trump’s campaign is requesting a fourth debate with his presumptive Democratic rival, citing an expected surge in mail and absentee voting this fall because of the coronavirus, expressed concern that some ballots — especially those by elderly voters most at risk to the virus — could be cast before the first debate. Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani made the request Thursday in a call with Frank Fahrenkopf, the co-chair of the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates.
“We want fair debates,” Parscale said. “We want them sooner and we want a bigger schedule. We also don’t want them up against football games competing for viewers. As many Americans as possible need to see the stark differences between the accomplishments and leadership of President Trump and the failed record and sleepiness of Joe Biden.” The Trump team also suggested that each campaign have a role in selecting the debate moderators, and potentially vetoing some journalists identified to serve in that role.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s campaign said it wasn’t looking for another debate and instead plans to participate in those scheduled by the commission. “We are not going to ride the roller coaster of the ever-changing Trump campaign position on debates, nor are we going to be distracted by his demands,” Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield said in a statement.
“We will make this simple,” Bedingfield continued. “Like every other Democratic and Republican candidate since 1992, we will show up for the debates set by the Commission on Presidential Debates, at the places they have selected, on the dates they have selected, with the formats and moderators they designate -- so long as Donald Trump does the same, and does not intimidate the Commission into changes from past practices.”
The first of three presidential debates is scheduled for Sept. 29 at the University of Notre Dame.
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