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. |
Senate scrambles to pass bill improving air safety and service for travelers2024 South Carolina General Assembly session may be remembered for what didn't happenChina and US resume cooperation on deportation as Chinese immigrants rush in from southern borderCalifornia to tap generative AI tools to increase services access, reduce traffic jamsIreland's Eurovision entry Bambie Thug slams organisers for making the singer remove proFrom Jabba the Hutt and Teletubby Hill to Drinking Dinosaur and the Wedding CakeGuyana says it gave permission for the US military to fly 2 powerful jets over the capitalSchauffele shoots 67 to take Wells Fargo lead. McIlroy in contention again at Quail HollowKim Kardashian was 'booed by Dave Portnoy fans' during Tom Brady roastShaquille O'Neal leaves fans concerned with cryptic social media response to his ex