Harris Team Comments On Trump Request
It seems like Vice President Kamala Harris has taken it upon herself to declare that the “debate about the debates is over.”
With a bold statement like that, you’d think Harris would be charging full steam ahead into as many debates as possible, ready to showcase her skills. But the reality is a bit different, and it’s raising some serious questions about just how confident she and her running mate, Tim Walz, really are.
Let’s start with Harris’s statement, where she suggests that Donald Trump might skip the upcoming September 10th debate on ABC News. But the kicker is her refusal to grant JD Vance’s request for more than one vice-presidential debate. For a campaign that’s been talking a big game, suggesting that their opponents are too scared to face them, this move seems a bit contradictory, doesn’t it?
Team Harris says three debates --two presidential, one VP. pic.twitter.com/dQEwe8sR2L
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) August 15, 2024
Who exactly gave Kamala Harris the authority to dictate the terms of these debates? Normally, we’d expect a few more debates on the schedule, especially since the standard is three presidential debates: two focusing on domestic issues and one on foreign policy. But Harris, who didn’t win a single primary vote before being selected as the running mate, seems to be setting her own rules. It’s almost as if she’s expecting everyone to play by her terms, and that’s not exactly the mark of a candidate brimming with confidence.
And let’s not forget Tim Walz. He’s been on the stump, making it sound like JD Vance is terrified of debating him. But when Vance says he’s ready to go head-to-head in multiple debates, Walz suddenly loses interest. It’s a curious change of tune from someone who’s been talking so tough.
What we’re seeing here is part of what some are calling the Harris campaign’s quasi-basement strategy. Sure, they’re doing campaign events, but it’s all very controlled. Reading from a teleprompter is one thing, but facing tough questions in interviews or press conferences is something else entirely—and neither Harris nor Walz has done any of that yet.
The campaign seems to be banking on the idea that less exposure means fewer opportunities to slip up. But what does that say about their confidence going into the debates, where unscripted moments are inevitable?
And speaking of debates, it’s worth noting that the ones Harris has agreed to are on networks and with moderators who are likely to be favorable to her campaign. So, why should Trump show up for a debate on ABC News if Harris won’t commit to the traditional third debate on Fox News? It seems like a fair question, but with the media landscape being what it is, it’s unlikely anyone will push Harris on it.