PHOENIX (AP) — The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which has planned presidential faceoffs in every election since 1988, has an uncertain future after President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump struck an agreement to meet on their own.
The Biden and Trump campaigns announced a deal Wednesday to meet for debates in June on CNN and September on ABC. Just a day earlier, Frank Fahrenkopf, chair of the Commission on Presidential Debates, had sounded optimistic that the candidates would eventually come around to accepting the commission’s debates.
“There’s no way you can force anyone to debate,” Fahrenkopf said in a virtual meeting of supporters of No Labels, which has continued as an advocacy group after it abandoned plans for a third-party presidential ticket. But he noted candidates have repeatedly toyed with skipping debates or finding alternatives before eventually showing up, though one was canceled in 2020 when Trump refused to appear virtually after he contracted COVID-19.
Rangers are undefeated at .500 to keep World Series champs from a losing record with Bochy
Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan stuns in glittering black gown as she holds hands with co
Josh Naylor's 3 RBIs sends Guardians to 6
Sarah Ferguson remembers the late Queen Elizabeth with a sweet message on her birthday
Saudi Arabia is going to sponsor the WTA women's tennis rankings under a new partnership
Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg hit back
Sarah Jayne Dunn sets pulses racing in animal print bra as she joins chic Georgia May Foote at CO
Sizzling Phillies finish homestand 8
Lynn Williams breaks NWSL goal
Alesha Dixon storms off Britain's Got Talent stage following a contestant's 'offensive' act
Investigators return to Long Island home of Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect
Wilyer Abreu drives in a pair of runs as Red Sox complete sweep of reeling Pirates with 6