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The Harris team fears that the rule will prevent her from challenging Trump effectively during the debate. Harris’s background as a prosecutor gives her a unique style, one that relies on direct confrontation—a style that would be curbed by the format. However, the debate rules allow for flexibility. CNN reports that if the debate descends into excessive “cross talk,” the moderators “may choose to turn on the mics.”
In contrast to the Harris campaign’s claims, ABC News has denied giving any special treatment or flexibility regarding the debate rules. A spokesperson for the network told Fox News, “Beyond the debate rules published today, which were mutually agreed upon by two campaigns on May 15, we have made no other agreements. We look forward to moderating the presidential debate next Tuesday.”
On Wednesday, ABC formally announced the debate rules, which bear a striking resemblance to those used during the June 27 debate between Trump and President Joe Biden. According to the rules, both candidates will be given two minutes to respond to questions, followed by two minutes for rebuttals and an additional minute for “follow-ups, clarifications, or responses.” Microphones will be muted during the non-speaking candidate’s allotted time to prevent interruptions.
The muted microphones are a major sticking point for the Harris campaign. The rules are designed to ensure a smooth debate, minimizing interruptions, but Harris’s team sees them as detrimental. The campaign has voiced concerns that the format will protect Trump from direct, unscripted exchanges.
This concern is not without precedent. During the June 27 debate, Biden’s performance was widely criticized for his inability to speak coherently within the time limits, leaving some to speculate that the Democratic Party’s internal machinations led to his political sidelining in favor of Harris. As CNN pointed out, it was Biden’s campaign that initially insisted on the muted microphones.
For Trump, the format appears to be less of an issue. Like his running mate, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, Trump has shown a willingness to tackle tough questions, even from unfriendly moderators. He knows the longer Democrats talk, the more the public grows dissatisfied with their policies. Trump’s approach to the debate is simple—let the opponent speak.
Trump is entering this debate with a clear strategy: let Harris do most of the talking. He shared his thoughts during a town hall event with Sean Hannity of Fox News in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Referring to his previous debate with Biden, Trump remarked, “You know when I had Biden, you and I had the same discussion, and I let him talk. I’m going to let her talk.”
Carry 46 rounds concealed? (comfortably)
The former president is confident that the more time Harris spends speaking, the worse it will be for her campaign. Harris’s team, on the other hand, seems to fear exactly that.
The Harris campaign appears to be banking on a fiery exchange, hoping that Trump will lose his composure under pressure. But if Trump remains calm and allows Harris to speak uninterrupted, it could be a major setback for her. After all, the Democratic Party is in a difficult position, having to defend a candidate who they know struggles to speak clearly for extended periods.
In the end, Democrats may be hoping for a miracle—a scenario where Trump falters while Harris shines. But for now, the odds seem stacked against them as the debate looms. The public will soon find out if the Harris campaign’s fears are justified or if their efforts to secure an advantage will backfire. Either way, this debate could prove to be a turning point in the 2024 election.
