(TheIndependentStar.com) – The conflict over whether candidates’ microphones would be muted when it is not their turn to speak is finally over, as Kamala Harris’ campaign gave in to the rules set by ABC News for her upcoming debate next week against GOP nominee Donald Trump.
Harris campaign adviser Brian Fallon wrote a letter to the network, criticizing the muted-microphone rule, arguing that it “will serve to shield Donald Trump from direct exchanges with the Vice President.”
“We understand that Donald Trump is a risk to skip the debate altogether, as he has threatened to do previously, if we do not accede to his preferred format. We do not want to jeopardize the debate. For this reason, we accept the full set of rules proposed by ABC, including muted microphones,” Fallon added.
Moreover, the Harris campaign secured verbal commitments from ABC to allow moderators to reprimand candidates who interrupt and to keep microphones on during heated exchanges.
Unlike the June CNN debate between Biden and Trump, traveling journalists will be close enough to hear what the television audience might miss.
Before agreeing to the debate rules, the Harris campaign took jabs at Trump, suggesting he was being controlled by his advisers, who pushed for the muted microphone rule despite his supposed indifference to it.
In this case, muted microphones could make it harder for candidates to deliver the kind of soundbites that often drive news coverage.
Trump announced last week that he agreed to the ABC debate under the same rules as the CNN debate, where both he and Biden had their microphones muted.
Since replacing Biden on the Democrat ticket, Harris has seen a surge in polling and enthusiasm, partially fueled by overwhelmingly positive media coverage.
However, her public appearances have been limited, as she has done only one primetime interview, which aired on CNN last week, but it was a joint interview with her running mate, Tim Walz.
This appearance has not significantly shifted the dynamics of the presidential race and hasn’t quelled questions about her shifting policy positions.
The ABC debate, which will take place in Philadelphia on September 10, is currently the only confirmed debate between the two candidates.
With early voting set to begin in some states shortly after the ABC debate, this matchup will likely be crucial in shaping the final weeks of the campaign.
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