In a defiant move away from tradition, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have decided to buck the usual presidential debate format. They've opted instead for debates hosted by CNN and ABC News, scheduled for June 27 and September 10, potentially ditching a debate at Texas State University.
KENS5 reported yesterday that these additional debates were organized without the involvement of the Commission on Presidential Debates, which traditionally schedules post-primary face-offs. As designed by the Commission to reach a broad audience, one such debate was to take place at Texas State University, bringing the presidential discourse to Texas soil for the first time.
Meanwhile, Texas State University was left in the limbo, having prepared to spend around $5 million on hosting duties, according to a Texas Tribune report. The University, after appointing Jack Martin, former chair of its System's Board of Regents, to spearhead fundraising efforts for the event, issued a statement, "We are aware of the latest developments surrounding the presidential debates. We are working closely with the Commission on Presidential Debates as we assess the situation."
ABC News has yet to comment on whether it might host a debate at Texas State. The Commission, established as a nonpartisan entity in 1987, retaliated Wednesday, asserting their mission to present "substantive debates" to the American electorate. They emphasized, "Our 2024 sites, all locations of higher learning, are prepared to host debates on dates chosen to accommodate early voters. We will continue to be ready to execute this plan."
Coordinating their debate schedules, Biden and Trump's camps seem to have brushed aside the Commission's plans. Set to meet in Georgia and a location to-be-determined on two summer and fall dates, they evade the customary autumn debates. Trump has further pressured for more debates throughout June, July, August, and September, aimed to "have maximum exposure to the records and future visions of each candidate," as his campaign publicized. The Biden camp critiqued the Commission's outdated format and lack of rule enforcement in past debates, arguing it fell out of sync with modern voting patterns that include early voting in numerous states.
