Staff Reports
Kamala Harris has snagged the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee title, and with it, she is already spinning a narrative about debate agreements that would make a seasoned politician’s head spin. In a classic display of political posturing, Harris claims that Donald Trump has signed on for a debate on September 10. However, the Trump campaign asserts that the loose handshake agreement was between Trump and Joe Biden, not the hapless vice president. They’re demanding a fresh batch of debates, and not just any old stage – they want one on Fox News, the very network that has given leftists a case of the heebie-jeebies.
Understanding the potential for debates to rocket his campaign to new heights, Trump came around to the idea of participating in the same debate format Harris claims was agreed upon. But the fun doesn’t stop there. The Harris campaign apparently has a few tricks up its sleeve and seeks to alter the debate rules. This led to a good old-fashioned exchange of barbs, with Trump accusing Harris of playing what might be politely termed “creative politics.” The talk was mostly about mics being live throughout the debate, a development that would surely pique the interest of anyone who enjoys a good showdown.
Kamala Harris Is Trying to Back out of the Debates https://t.co/riU6WX8e7X PajamasMedia pic.twitter.com/6UpV68E33p
— Jewish Community (@JComm_BlogFeeds) August 26, 2024
In a game of political chess, Trump took to Truth Social to toy with the idea of skipping the ABC debate entirely. His spokesperson jumped in, declaring that the Harris team was trying to switch up the rules mid-game. This is the equivalent of showing up to a chess match and insisting the pieces must be played blindfolded. Trump’s team is pushing back firmly against these antics, insisting that rules should stay as agreed upon, much like parking by a fire hydrant—rules are rules and the fire department doesn’t care about your excuses.
There is little doubt that the Harris camp is nervous. Their team has already asked for a seated debate with notes and opening statements—anything that smacks of a high school debate prep. The spokesperson rightly suggested that if Kamala cannot stick to the key points without a safety net, that’s a call for concern. Not only does Harris seem ill-prepared, but evidence suggests her handlers might be treading carefully, keeping her far away from unscripted moments and press conferences. One can’t help but wonder whether they’re more worried about her performance than they are about Trump’s, and that’s a tilt on the political seesaw that could backfire spectacularly.
The Harris camp’s insistence on keeping mics live throughout the debate appears to be a strategy rooted in sheer panic. A senior advisor expressed that Trump’s team might be afraid their candidate can’t keep composure for a straight 90 minutes without the luxury of a mute button. This reeks of desperation. The hope here is that by swinging the mic situation in their favor, they could drown out Trump’s interruptions, but this plan isn’t likely to take the spotlight off the fact that Harris’ public speaking skills have, quite frankly, been nothing short of lackluster.
The ghosts of Biden’s hesitant debate strategies linger, reminding everyone that dodging debates seldom leads to victory. The left’s past failures to engage directly with Trump suggest they’re stepping into a bear trap with wide-open jaws. As history has shown, when Democrats try to ‘outmaneuver’ their opponents, they often end up on the losing side of the debate stage. With Harris looking to change the game, one can only expect more antics, which, if past performance is any predictor, are unlikely to work out in her favor.
