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.
Yu Darvish extends scoreless innings streak to 25 in Padres' 9
Racial bias did not shape Mississippi's water funding decisions for capital city, EPA says
Naomi Osaka is in a good place mentally. And her clay game is improving as she heads back to Paris
Colorado woman tried to steal a pickup, but couldn't handle the stick shift, police said
Storms damage homes in Oklahoma and Kansas. But in Houston, most power is restored
China and US resume cooperation on deportation as Chinese immigrants rush in from southern border
UN seeks $430 million for drought
Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
South Sudan mediation talks launched in Kenya with a hope of ending conflict
Storms damage homes in Oklahoma and Kansas. But in Houston, most power is restored
Baby Reindeer's Jessica Gunning reenacts stalker Martha's pose as she joins co