Donald Trump says it's “too late” to hold another debate as early voting has begun ahead of the November 5 election.
Kamala Harris challenged Donald Trump to a second debate ahead of the US presidential election, saying she would “gladly” face the former president again.
In a statement on Saturday, Harris campaign spokeswoman Jen O'Malley said the US vice president had accepted CNN's invitation to a debate on October 23.
“We look forward to Vice President Harris again having the opportunity at the CNN debate to demonstrate her command of the issues and why it is time to turn the page on Donald Trump and chart a new path for America,” O’Malley said.
More than 67 million people tuned in to watch the first face-off between Harris and Trump on Sept. 10, in which the two candidates traded barbs on immigration, foreign policy and other issues.
Most observers crowned Harris the winner of that debate, as she appeared to repeatedly flummox Trump throughout the evening.
I would be happy to accept a second presidential debate on October 23.
Wait @realDonaldTrump will join me.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 21, 2024
Trump had posted on his social media platform Truth Social earlier this month that “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!”
Trump echoed that at a campaign rally in North Carolina on Saturday, saying it was “too late” to have another showdown with Harris.
“The problem with another debate is that it is already too late, the voting has already started,” he said, according to US media.
While Election Day is November 5, early voting began this week in some US states.
In 2020, the last presidential debate before the election was on October 22. Four years earlier, when Trump faced Democrat Hillary Clinton, the third and final presidential debate was on October 19.
CNN has said the proposed debate on October 23 would mirror the format of the June debate between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.
Biden's poor performance in that debate raised questions about his age and ability to serve another term, and weeks later he dropped out of the 2024 race.
“Both Vice President Harris and former President Trump have received an invitation to participate in a CNN debate this fall, as we believe the American people would benefit from a second debate between the two candidates for President of the United States,” CNN said in a statement.
“We look forward to hearing from both campaigns so the American public can hear more from these candidates as they make their final decision.”
Close race
Most polls show Trump and Harris locked in a tight race ahead of the upcoming election, particularly in swing states that will be key to winning the White House.
According to a New York Times poll, Harris held a slim lead of 49 percent support nationally on Saturday, compared with 47 percent for Trump.
It's unclear whether debates actually have an effect on presidential campaigns, though most experts say the impact is minimal.
However, Elaine Kamarck and William A. Galston, election experts at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington, D.C., said the Harris-Trump debate in September seemed “likely to give Harris's sales a new boost.”
“Whether it will be enough to propel her to victory in the Electoral College remains to be seen. But her campaign and supporters leave the debate with renewed energy and hope,” they wrote.
“Instead, the Trump campaign must reckon with the possibility that its candidate’s performance has pleased his base without winning many new supporters over to his side.”
