With many of the usual staples of presidential campaign policies – such as rallies, town halls, fundraisers and arenas filled with convention data – shocked by the coronavirus pandemic, this autumn’s presidential debate is likely to take on a larger format.
The debates – long a public service to give voters a look at how candidates agree on the issues and against each other – have also become prime-time media spectacle.
TRUMP SHOWS OF EXTRA DEBATE WITH PRAYER
But the debates are rarely without controversy – and this time is no exception, as President Trump has unsuccessfully sought a fourth discussion with Democratic challenger Joe Biden before early September, before many states begin sending absentee ballots to voters.
Presidential debates
- First presidential debate: September 29 in Cleveland
- Vice Presidency Debate: October 7 in Salt Lake City
- Second presidential debate: October 15 in Miami
- Third Presidential Debate: October 22 in Nashville
The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) – which has been organizing and conducting general and vice-presidential elections for more than three decades – rejected the formal request of the Trump election campaign, but said it would ” would consider “an additional meeting between the president and Biden after the three already planned if both candidates agree.”
Following the tradition of the past few election cycles, there will be three presidential debates and one between the nominated vice-presidencies. All debates will be 90 minutes long, and will run from 9 pm-10:30pm ET without commercial breaks. Details regarding the sensitive question of having live audience members – and how social distance rules will be implemented – are still being worked out amid the pandemic.
From now on, here’s how the debates form.
First presidential debate: September 29 in Cleveland
The first presidential debate between Trump and former Vice President Biden will be hosted by Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2004, the school was the site of the vice-presidency showdown between then-Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic Vice Presidential candidate sen. John Edwards. The Cleveland Clinic is serving as the CPD’s health safety advisor for all four debates this fall.
Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind., Was the original host for the first debate, but withdrew in July due to health concerns about holding a large personal meeting amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Vice Presidency Debate: October 7 in Salt Lake City
The Vice Presidential Debate between Vice President Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris of California will be held at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Second presidential debate: October 15 in Miami
The second presidency debate will be held at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Fla. The University of Michigan – which was the original host of the second debate – withdrew in June due to health concerns amid the pandemic.
Third Presidential Debate: October 22 in Nashville
The third presidency debate will be held at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. The school was the site of a 2008 presidential debate between then-Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and John McCain of Arizona.
