Fox News has just thrown down the gauntlet, extending a presidential debate invitation to none other than former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Date to Remember
Sept. 17 is the tentative date for what would likely be an epic debate. Fox News is eyeing locations in Pennsylvania, just as early voting kicks off.
Another debate is currently scheduled with ABC News for the week before.
The Big Invite
Fox News Media President Jay Wallace and VP of Politics Jessica Loker sent a detailed letter to both campaigns, including Trump’s senior advisers, Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles. The message? “We propose to host the debate in the state of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, September 17, just an early voting is getting underway there and in other key battlegrounds. We are open to disccussion on the exact date, format and location – with or without an audience.”
Variety’s Brian Steinberg has the latest developments:
ABC News had locked down an agreement between the Trump campaign and that built around President Joe Biden to televise a debate slated to take place on September 10. Trump over the past few days has suggested a debate that would take place on Fox News Channel.
Between 1988 and 2020, the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates organized the presidential debate process, lining up moderators on its own. Modern politics have churned so much with outrage, however, that both Republicans and Democrats have been eager to circumvent the organization their own parties set in motion in 1987, after several elections in which the debates were put together by the League of Women Voters.
The events are not to be taken lightly. CNN televised a debate in June that ultimately proved to be Biden’s downfall. The president appeared enervated and tired, even thought the debate took place without a live audience and with microphones that were muted when a candidate’s time to speak or respond had elapsed. CNN’s telecast was picked up by many of its competitors, and was broken up by commercial breaks — once seen as taboo. Approximately 51.27 million viewers watched the 90-minute spectacle, according to Nielsen, which was simulcast across 22 networks.
Top-Notch Moderators
Fox’s letter proposes none other than journalists Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum to moderate the debate.
Despite not hosting a Democratic presidential primary debate in the last two election cycles, Fox News has a stellar record of highly-watched candidate town halls with big names like Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. They know how to draw a crowd and keep viewers glued to their screens.
A “Pivotal Moment”
Wallace and Loker concluded their invitation with a powerful note: “We appreciate your consideration and look forward to the opportunity to foster informed political dialogue at this pivotal moment for our nation.”
Join the Conversation
What are your thoughts on this potential debate? Do you think it will happen? Who do you think will come out on top? Share your opinions in the comments below.
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It would be good to see an honest debate by a conservative outlet. I think Trump would win no matter what!
Reserve the opinion that Fox can deliver an honest debate. But no mater what Trump will win against a space cadet like Kamie. Just love her child voice she employs. I guess her hubby and lovers have liked that but she is just too old to pull it off anymore.
Trump because no one wants to hear the cackling witch of the West, Harris and her word salads.
There is NO QUESTION that FOX News can draw the largest viewers in TV..They ask questions pertaining to our interest & concerns in our Nation and are by-partisan in directing them!
I hope they will be granted the opportunity to host this debate.