In a move signaling urgency from her campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris made a renewed attempt over the weekend to schedule a second debate against former President Donald Trump before the November election. Despite having previously rejected multiple debate offers, Harris accepted a new invitation for an October 23 debate hosted by CNN, sparking speculation about the motives behind her sudden push.
Harris’ campaign released a statement asserting that the American people “deserve another opportunity” to see the two candidates face off in a live debate. “It would be unprecedented in modern history for there to just be one general election debate,” the statement read. “Vice President Harris is ready for another opportunity to share a stage with Donald Trump, and she has accepted CNN’s invitation to a debate on October 23. Donald Trump should have no problem agreeing to this debate.”
However, Trump quickly fired back during a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, expressing little interest in scheduling another debate. Trump emphasized that it was “too late” for further debates, particularly after Harris had previously declined earlier offers. “She’s done one debate. I’ve done two. It’s too late to do another,” Trump stated. “I’d love to, in many ways, but the voting is already underway. She had her chance with Fox. I waited for them to agree, and they turned it down. Now she wants to debate on CNN right before the election because she’s losing badly.”
Trump’s comments reflect a broader frustration within his campaign, particularly since Harris had previously dismissed a Fox News debate scheduled for September 4 and failed to respond to an NBC News debate proposal for September 25. Both candidates participated in a September 10 debate on ABC News, which many conservatives criticized as biased against Trump.
Political analysts have interpreted Harris’ sudden willingness to debate as a sign of potential internal concerns within her campaign. National Review senior writer Dan McLaughlin questioned the strategic thinking behind Harris’ acceptance of a second CNN debate, while avoiding any further engagements on Fox. “Harris now wants another CNN debate, so it would be CNN-ABC-CNN, with CBS hosting the VP debate. Why CNN twice but no Fox? Since when does one side get all home games?” McLaughlin wrote, noting that campaigns seeking additional debates are often those trailing in the race. “This suggests that the Harris campaign’s internal polling may not align with the confidence her supporters display online.”
Fox News host Laura Ingraham also weighed in, taking to social media to question Harris’ motives. “The fact that Kamala’s team is pushing for a new debate is a sign of weakness, not strength,” Ingraham posted on X (formerly Twitter). “They obviously don’t think they have the electoral college in the bag.”
The fact that Kamala’s team is pushing for a new debate is a sign of weakness, not strength. They obviously don’t think they have the electoral college.
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) September 21, 2024
Harris and Trump’s previous debate, which aired on ABC News, was widely criticized for its contentious format. Trump supporters accused the network of favoring Harris, while detractors of Trump labeled his performance combative and off-topic. Despite the mixed reviews, both campaigns emerged claiming victory.
Matt Whitlock, a Republican strategist, echoed Ingraham’s sentiments, highlighting the Harris campaign’s inconsistent approach to media appearances. “Hilarious bravado from the campaign that hasn’t done a press conference and pretended the Fox News debate invitation just didn’t exist—even after Trump went on ABC,” Whitlock remarked.
The dynamic between Harris and Trump has been tense throughout the campaign season. While Harris has largely stuck to traditional campaign events and speeches, Trump has embraced rallies and media appearances, using them to criticize Harris’ policies and campaign strategy. The rejection of Fox News debates and Harris’ focus on CNN has only fueled speculation that the campaign is selectively choosing platforms perceived as more favorable.
Harris’ acceptance of a late-October CNN debate also contrasts sharply with the trajectory of President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign. Biden participated in a CNN debate against Trump in June 2020 that was widely seen as a disaster for him, leading to his eventual withdrawal from the race after mounting pressure from within the Democratic Party.
As Election Day approaches, the stakes for both candidates continue to rise. With early voting already underway, Harris’ last-minute push for a rematch could reflect concerns about the strength of her support in key battleground states. However, whether Trump will agree to the additional debate remains uncertain. His campaign has signaled that they view Harris’ sudden change of heart as a reaction to lagging polling numbers, particularly in critical swing states.
Whether or not a second debate materializes, Harris’ decision to engage further reflects the intensifying nature of the campaign, as both candidates strive to sway undecided voters in the final weeks. The campaign’s focus on battleground states, debate strategies, and media appearances is likely to intensify as Election Day draws nearer.