PHOENIX (AP) — The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which has planned presidential faceoffs in every election since 1988, has an uncertain future after President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump struck an agreement to meet on their own.
The Biden and Trump campaigns announced a deal Wednesday to meet for debates in June on CNN and September on ABC. Just a day earlier, Frank Fahrenkopf, chair of the Commission on Presidential Debates, had sounded optimistic that the candidates would eventually come around to accepting the commission’s debates.
“There’s no way you can force anyone to debate,” Fahrenkopf said in a virtual meeting of supporters of No Labels, which has continued as an advocacy group after it abandoned plans for a third-party presidential ticket. But he noted candidates have repeatedly toyed with skipping debates or finding alternatives before eventually showing up, though one was canceled in 2020 when Trump refused to appear virtually after he contracted COVID-19.
'The Apprentice,' about a young Donald Trump, premieres in Cannes
Tory Susan Hall closes the gap on Sadiq Khan with a fortnight until London mayoral election
Worker electrocuted while doing maintenance on utility pole in upstate New York
Teen fighter pauses near Myawaddy to talk of decision to join resistance — Radio Free Asia
Shooting injures 2 at Missouri high school graduation ceremony
An Alabama prison warden is arrested on drug charges
An Alabama prison warden is arrested on drug charges
'Bluey' hits the mark with children and adults alike
Strictly star Giovanni Pernice's former partner Rose Ayling
Stars waited late to find out they get playoff rematch against the defending Stanley Cup champions
Investigators return to Long Island home of Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect
Tory Susan Hall closes the gap on Sadiq Khan with a fortnight until London mayoral election