US Presidential Battle: Harris Accepts Trumps Challenge, Both Set To Clash

Kamala Harris’s campaign announced on Thursday that she will debate Donald Trump twice, while their running mates will face off once, aiming to resolve recent debates over the election schedule.

Previously, both campaigns had agreed to one presidential debate on September 10 and a vice-presidential debate on October 1. Trump’s campaign had been advocating for two additional presidential debates and one more vice-presidential debate.

“The debate about debates is over. Donald Trump’s campaign has accepted our proposal for three debates — two presidential and one vice-presidential,” the Harris campaign stated.

The statement also noted, “Provided Donald Trump participates on September 10, Tim Walz will debate Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, on October 1, with another Trump-Harris debate scheduled later in October.”

The Trump campaign had not yet responded to the statement when contacted by AFP.

Harris’s late entry into the race, following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal due to concerns over his age and popularity, has turned the election into a rapid sprint to November 5, akin to European election cycles.

As the first female, Black, and South Asian vice president, Harris is aiming to become the first female president. She is intensifying her efforts to connect with voters ahead of the election.

Harris and Walz are heading to the Democrats’ national convention in Chicago next week, building on their strong start which includes overcoming Trump’s polling leads, setting fundraising records, and drawing large, enthusiastic crowds.

CBS had proposed four potential vice-presidential debate dates in September and October to Walz, the governor of Minnesota, and Vance, the senator from Ohio. Both accepted October 1, but Vance suggested an earlier debate on September 18, reportedly offered by CNN.

Vance had previously criticized the format of debates without live audiences, referring to the June 27 debate between Trump and Biden as a “fake debate.”

The September 10 Harris-Trump debate will be hosted by ABC News, a channel Trump had previously avoided due to a legal dispute with its executives.