Donald Trump rejects changes to debate as Joe Biden firms as presidential frontrunner
Donald Trump stands firm on debate rules as officials consider the muting of microphones after the Cleveland free-for-all.
Donald Trump is set to reject changes to the rules of the next two US presidential debates after the chaotic brawling spectacle in Cleveland this week.
“Why would I allow the Debate Commission to change the rules for the second and third Debates when I easily won last time?” the president wrote in a tweet.
“I won the debate big, based on a compilation of the polls etc. Thank you!”
Why would I allow the Debate Commission to change the rules for the second and third Debates when I easily won last time?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2020
I won the debate big, based on compilation of polls etc. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2020
His comments came as his Democrat opponent Joe Biden firmed sharply in betting for an election victory after the debate in which Biden was widely seen as the winner.
Since the Wednesday (AEDT) debate, Mr Biden’s favouritism to win the November poll has soared, from a 9.5 point advantage over the president on the day of the debate to a 20 point lead, giving him a 60.1 per cent chance of winning to just 40.1 per cent for Mr Trump.
Mr Biden has also improved his lead in national opinion polls, rising from a 6.1 point lead on the day of the debate to a 7.2 margin on Friday (AEDT) although it is still too early for all polls to record the full impact of the debate.
Mr Trump’s behaviour in the first debate, in which he repeatedly interrupted and talked over his opponent Mr Biden — who fired back to a lesser degree — led the Commission on Presidential Debates to say they would change the rules for the next debates to prevent a repeat.
The clash was considered by many to be the worst in the history of presidential debates, with insults and taunts from both candidates dominating the night rather than discussion of competing policies and visions.
Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel also pushed back at the idea of changing the format for the next two debates, saying it should not be a forum that is “softer and easier and nicer”.
“Listen, they came out hot, and they went after each other, and these are grown men, and they’re going to be on the world stage, and they can handle a debate,” Ms McDaniel said.
“They’re competing to be president of the United States.”
The debate commission has not said how it would seek to change the rules of the next debate in Miami on October 15 although the possibility of muting the microphone of a candidate who is not speaking is being discussed. The Miami debate is also a town hall format rather than one-on-one, which will also change the dynamic. The third and final debate is in Nashville on October 22 less than two weeks before the poll.
Next week, the Vice Presidential candidates Mike Pence and Democrat Kamala Harris will hold their one and only debate.
Meanwhile the White House on Friday hit back at critics of Mr Trump over his refusal during the debate to condemn white supremacists, with press secretary Kayleigh McEnany claiming the president had “denounced white supremacy” repeatedly.
“The president has denounced white supremacy, the KKK, hate groups of all forms, he signed a resolution — just last week, he expressed his desire to see the KKK prosecuted as domestic terrorists,” Ms McEnany said.
“His record on this is unmistakeable and it is shameful the media refuses to cover it … his record is not mixed in the slightest,” Ms McEnany said.
The president has since clarified comments he made in the debate which suggested he was encouraging a far-right neo-fascist group, Proud Boys, to prepare for battle against the violent left-wing anarchist group Antifa.
Both Mr Trump and Mr Biden will campaign across key battleground states in the days ahead with Mr Biden visiting Michigan and Florida while the president will hold rallies in Florida, Wisconsin and Arizona.
The Biden campaign will also resume doorknocking voters in swing states, a practice it had stopped during the pandemic for safety reasons.
The change comes amid reports that the Trump campaign — which has been doorknocking throughout the pandemic — have been more effective than Democrats in adding new voters to electoral rolls.
Meanwhile, the confirmation process for Mr Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Amy Barrett, is moving ahead with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows saying he expected her to be confirmed in late October, just before the November 3 poll.
Democrats will oppose and possibly try to delay the nomination of the conservative judge but they do not have the numbers in the Senate to block it.
On Capitol Hill, Democrat House Leader Nancy Pelosi has cast doubt over reaching an agreement with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on another coronavirus relief package. Democrats have proposed a $US2.2 trillion relief plan but Mr Mnuchen says that figure is too high and has instead proposed a $US1.6 trillion proposal.
Mr Pelosi said Republicans did not “share our values” on the need to provide trillions of dollars in health and economic relief to Americans impacted by the pandemic.
Mr Mnuchin has been negotiating on behalf of the White House, while Senate Republicans have rejected any large new spending bill over concerns about the rising deficit.
Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia
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