"I am ready." Vice President Kamala Harris, who has secured the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in the United States, stated that she is prepared to participate in the TV debate with former President Donald Trump scheduled for September 10.
According to CBS News and others, Vice President Harris met with reporters at Andrews Base on the outskirts of Washington D.C. that day and said, "I believe voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this election," adding, "I am ready. Let's go."
Vice President Harris also emphasized that the debate with former President Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, should be held on September 10 under the auspices of ABC News, as originally planned for President Joe Biden. Harris said, "I am ready to debate Trump. I agreed to the September 10 debate we had previously agreed upon, and he had agreed to it earlier as well," but she pointed out, "But now it seems he is backing out."
This remark is interpreted as a jab at former President Trump, who, since President Biden's withdrawal from the candidacy, has insisted on a conservative-leaning Fox News-hosted debate, saying "ABC News is not favorable." Fox News also proposed a debate on September 17 to both sides the day before. Vice President Harris did not respond to questions about the Fox News-hosted debate that day.
Earlier, President Biden and former President Trump agreed in May to participate in two presidential candidate debates. The first debate was held on August 27 under CNN's hosting, and the second debate was scheduled to be hosted by ABC News. Notably, presidential debates in the U.S. attract global attention as they provide voters with an opportunity to assess the qualifications of the next president. The first TV debate at the end of last month became a critical factor that fueled concerns about President Biden's age and led to his withdrawal from the candidacy.
Having already judged that he dominated President Biden in the first TV debate, former President Trump has expressed confidence in facing Vice President Harris as well. On the 23rd, during a call with reporters hosted by the Republican National Committee, he said, "I want to debate her," and disparaged, "They (Biden and Harris) have the same policies, so she won't be much different after debating me."
However, local observers suggest that former President Trump may be at a disadvantage if he faces Vice President Harris, a former prosecutor. Vice President Harris is well known for her sharp rhetoric. In contrast, the public speeches and remarks of 78-year-old former President Trump this year are known to be lengthy and confusing.
Republican consultant Alex Conant told the Associated Press that this debate "could be decisive" and evaluated it as "the only time voters really pay attention."
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