The Commission on Presidential Debates announced their selection of moderators Wednesday for the presidential debates between Democratic nominee Joe Biden and Republican nominee President Donald Trump. They also announced a moderator for the vice-presidential debate between Biden’s running mate Sen. Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence.
The moderators include Chris Wallace, an anchor for Fox News for the first debate, Susan Page, Washington Bureau Chief for USA Today for the VP debate, Steve Scully, Senior Executive Producer and Political Editor of C-SPAN Networks for the second debate, and Kristen Welker, Co-Anchor Weekend TODAY and White House Correspondent for NBC News for the third.
Despite calls from the Trump campaign for a fourth debate the first week of September to influence those who participate in early mail-in voting, the Commission only scheduled three formal debates. The first debate will be on Tuesday, Sept. 29, the second debate on Thursday, Oct. 15, and the third debate on Thursday, Oct. 22. The vice presidential debate will be on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
According to the Commission, the first debate and third presidential debates, held in Cleveland, Ohio and Nashville, Tennessee will follow normal debate format while the second presidential debate held in Miami, Florida will be styled as a “town meeting.”
In early August, Trump’s personal lawyer, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani suggested that the Commission examined the pre-approved list of moderators picked by Trump’s team. None of those moderators appeared on the Commission’s official list.
Trump campaign sends letter to Commission on Presidential Debates requesting a 4th, earlier debate
Also Trump campaign's suggested debate moderators: pic.twitter.com/o5SJAXo6FX
— Will Steakin (@wsteaks) August 5, 2020
Nancy Pelosi previously encouraged Biden not to participate in the debates, reasoning that President Trump would “probably act in a way that is beneath the dignity of the presidency.” Despite suggestions from the mainstream media that Biden should refuse to debate Trump, Biden’s campaign says he plans to take the debate stage.
