Harris says will debate Trump twice

[june04]

Kamala Harris's campaign officially announced on Thursday that she will participate in two presidential debates against her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, while their respective running mates will face off in one vice-presidential debate. This comes after weeks of back-and-forth negotiations over the debate schedule. Initially, both campaigns had agreed to one presidential debate on September 10 and a vice-presidential debate on October 1. However, the Trump campaign had been advocating for additional debates, proposing two more presidential debates in September and another vice-presidential encounter.

Harris's campaign responded by stating that the matter has been settled, with an agreement for three debates in total: two between Harris and Trump, and one between their vice-presidential candidates. Assuming Trump attends the September 10 debate as planned, Harris's running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, will engage in a debate against Trump's VP candidate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, on October 1. The final Harris-Trump debate is scheduled to take place later in October.

This development follows Harris's recent entry into the race, stepping in for President Joe Biden after he withdrew due to concerns about his age and declining popularity. Harris, already a historic figure as the first female, Black, and South Asian vice president, is now aiming to make history again as the first woman to be elected president. With just a few months until Election Day on November 5, she is working swiftly to introduce herself to the American public and secure their support.

Harris's campaign has had a strong start, helping to reverse Trump's polling advantage, shatter fundraising records, and draw large, enthusiastic crowds to rallies. As the campaign progresses, both Harris and Walz will make appearances at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago, hoping to build on their early momentum.

CBS recently announced on the social media platform X that it had proposed four potential vice-presidential debates to both Walz and Vance, with the two candidates agreeing to one on October 1, which will take place after early voting begins in some states. Vance had also suggested an earlier debate on September 18, which he claimed was offered by CNN. Previously, he expressed reluctance to participate in what he termed "fake debates," referencing the June 27 debate between Trump and Biden that ultimately ended Biden's re-election campaign. The September 10 debate between Harris and Trump will be hosted by ABC News, despite Trump's earlier reservations due to an ongoing legal dispute with the network's executives.