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. |
A year after winning in pro debut, Rose Zhang takes Founders Cup lead with careerNew Jersey legislators advance bill overhauling state's open records lawPennsylvania to ban cell phone use while driving and require police to collect traffic stop data2024 South Carolina General Assembly session may be remembered for what didn't happenNew Jersey legislators advance bill overhauling state's open records lawNCAA removes cap on official recruiting visits in basketball to deal with unlimited transfersArrow McLaren selects Pourchaire as replacement driver for the injured MalukasUtilities complete contentious land swap to clear way for power line in Mississippi River refugeBrave motherUtilities complete contentious land swap to clear way for power line in Mississippi River refuge