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.
Burglar hurled stolen mobile phones at police from the top of 60ft high roof during nine
Sen. Bob Menendez reveals his wife has breast cancer as his trial focuses on FBI raid of his home
Watchdog: EPA's lead pipe fix sent about $3 billion to states based on unverified data
Ron Washington makes first return to Texas as an opposing manager with fond memories
Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse has been refloated
Squad sizes for Copa America teams expanded from 23 players to 26
France coach Deschamps includes Kanté and Barcola in preliminary Euro 2024 squad
Bella Hadid goes braless in a thigh
Space tech expo convenes in California, showcasing latest in space industry
Liverpool confirms Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp's replacement
Dua Lipa and Drew Barrymore suffer a VERY awkward stumble as they hug on