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.
Cruise worker 'murders newborn son on board ship': Shocked co
China criticizes US for passing warship through Taiwan Strait
Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton hits 119.9 mph home run, hardest
North West joins starry concert event of 'The Lion King' at Hollywood Bowl
Kevin Pillar gets 1,000th career hit in Angels' win at Texas
Japanese automaker Nissan reports 92% jump in profit as sales surge
Ohio attorney general warns student protesters in masks could face felony charges under anti
Everybody may love Raymond, but Ray Romano loves Peter Boyle
Rules fights and insults slow down South Carolina House on next
Yvette Fielding says her Most Haunted co
Kourtney Kardashian opens up about undergoing 'terrifying' fetal surgery during 'high