Harris challenges Trump to second US presidential debate | News about the US election 2024

The Democratic vice president hopes that the former Republican president will join her on the debate stage in October, just weeks before the election.

Kamala Harris has challenged Donald Trump to a second debate before the US presidential election and said she would “gladly accept” the opportunity to run against 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 having another opportunity in the CNN debate to demonstrate her expertise and explain why it is time to move on from Donald Trump and forge a new path for America,” O’Malley said.

More than 67 million people watched the first exchange between Harris and Trump on September 10, in which the two candidates exchanged barbs over immigration, foreign policy and other issues.

Most observers chose Harris as the winner of the debate because she seemed to repeatedly unsettle Trump throughout the evening.

Trump did not immediately comment on Saturday on the possibility of participating in another debate against his Democratic rival before the November 5 election.

I am happy to accept a second presidential debate on October 23rd.

I hope @realDonaldTrump will accompany me.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) 21 September 2024

On September 12, he posted on his social media platform Truth: “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!”

The former Republican president ran against Democrat Joe Biden in June. Biden’s poor performance against Trump raised questions about his age and ability to serve another term, and weeks later he withdrew from the race for the 2024 presidential nomination.

CNN has stated that the planned debate in October will have the same format as the one in June.

“Both Vice President Harris and former President Trump received an invitation to participate in a CNN debate this fall because we believe the American people would benefit from a second debate between the two candidates for President of the United States,” the network said in a statement.

“We look forward to the response from both campaigns so that the American public can learn more about these candidates as they make their final decision.”

According to most polls, Trump and Harris will be neck and neck in the run-up to the upcoming election, especially in the swing states that will be crucial to winning the White House.

According to a New York Times poll report, Harris was polling nationally on Saturday at 49 percent, just ahead of Trump, who received 47 percent approval.

It is not clear whether debates actually have an impact on the presidential election campaign. However, most experts believe that the influence is minimal.

Nevertheless, Elaine Kamarck and William A. Galston, election experts at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington, DC, said the debate between Harris and Trump in September would “likely give Harris’s sales numbers a new boost.”

“Whether it will be enough to secure her victory in the Electoral College remains to be seen. But her campaign team and supporters leave the debate with renewed energy and hope,” they wrote.

“In contrast, the Trump team must expect that their candidate’s performance will satisfy his voter base without attracting many new supporters to his side.”