What are they scared of?
President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign has not yet committed to participating in general election debates slated for the upcoming year, indicating a potential departure from the traditional format of White House campaigns. Quentin Fulks, Biden’s deputy campaign manager, addressed reporters, stating that while they would review the schedule released by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates last month, the campaign’s primary focus presently revolves around establishing a robust national campaign presence.
Fulks emphasized that while conversations regarding debates would occur, the current priority remains building a campaign infrastructure capable of competing effectively in the 2024 elections. When questioned further, Fulks redirected attention to Trump and the GOP’s internal dynamics, highlighting their divisive primary where the front-runner has opted out of debates. The focus, he reiterated, rests on Biden’s team strategizing for a victorious election next year.
Trump, who has abstained from all GOP primary debates, including the recent one at the University of Alabama, citing his substantial lead over rivals, has expressed willingness for a general election debate. Despite the Republican National Committee’s unanimous decision in April 2022 to withdraw from Commission on Presidential Debates-organized debates, Trump has indicated a commitment to debating during a general election campaign.
The Commission’s proposed schedule outlines three presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate slated for the fall. The venues include Texas State University, Lafayette College, Virginia State University, and the University of Utah, culminating less than a month before the November 5 Election Day.
