Staff Reports
A recently leaked email from ABC News has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, pulling back the curtain on the debate rules for the highly anticipated matchup between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris set for September 10th. The email nullifies the narrative being spun by the Harris campaign and exposes the questionable tactics they’ve employed in a desperate attempt to regain control of the debate stage.
Over the past week, Harris’s team has been busy painting Trump as fearful and cowardly, claiming he might pull out of the debate due to his supposed anxiety about having unmuted microphones. This followed a report from Politico that hinted at a stalemate between the campaigns regarding the rules. It’s almost amusing how the narrative has shifted; after Trump initially suggested some rule adjustments—rational given the absence of Joe Biden—Harris’s camp proceeded to call out his courage while simultaneously manipulating the situation to generate sympathy for their side.
In a spectacular display of hypocrisy, the Harris campaign, which had previously been vocal about sticking to agreed terms, suddenly started demanding changes mere days before the debate. The problem? The email confirms that the debate rules were indeed set from the start to mirror those of the June 27 CNN debate, which left Biden’s campaign in shambles. Harris’s last-minute requests for unmuted mics reveal a strategic, albeit clumsy, attempt to alter the playing field in hopes of gaining a perceived advantage.
The email, reviewed by The New York Post, clarifies that the guidelines would follow the same framework as that of previous debates: muted mics, no audience, and strict restrictions on materials allowed on stage. It has become clear that ABC News prioritized consistency in the rules over accommodating the frantic demands of the Harris camp, which could be taken as a sign of respect for the integrity of the debate process. After all, why should Trump be forced into a potentially disadvantageous format when the rules were crystal clear from the outset?
Leaked Email Reveals ABC News Presidential Debate Rules, Debunks Harris Campaign Narrativehttps://t.co/nTFKgaEaFD
— RedState (@RedState) August 29, 2024
A prominent ally of Trump has pointed out that ABC News had communicated its position to both campaigns, indicating that the rules were final and confirmed. The Harris camp now faces a dilemma: comply with the established rules and hope for the best performance from their candidate—who has previously stumbled when off-script—or risk looking weak and unprepared by potentially backing out. The pessimistic murmurs within Team Harris speak volumes about their confidence in Kamala, who has avoided unscripted interactions like the plague and is now scrambling to save face.
In the end, all Trump really has to do is show up. He has accepted the rules, and any refusal from Harris would only cement her image as inept and weak in the eyes of voters. If the vice president walks away from the debate based on her own unwillingness to adapt to existing guidelines, she will likely solidify the narrative of her campaign’s fragility—proving that sometimes, the real fear comes from not being able to face the opponent head-on. It’s a classic case of political maneuvering, and in this instance, it appears the Harris campaign has outsmarted itself.
