Before President Joe Biden decided to step aside and pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris on the Democratic ticket, both his campaign and Donald Trump's campaign had agreed to three debate dates.
The June 27th debate--where Trump lied a record amount of time and Joe Biden was a little hoarse and tired--set off a media firestorm that resulted in the President's announcement last Sunday.
But even before that, it was clear the Trump-Vance campaign was going to do everything to weasel out of debating VP Harris. I like to imagine JD "Hillbilly Effigy" Vance hearing he wasn't going to have to debate her and then crying a bucket of relieved tears into his couch, leaving eyeliner stains all over the cushions.
It's fun seeing Trump and Vance throwing each other under the same bus over and over.
VP Harris challenged Trump to keep that Sept 10th date with her, and his campaign announced a big ol' "No way" couched in typical Trumpian doublespeak.
Everyone knows he's scared to debate Kamala Harris. The date is only eight days before Trump is scheduled to be sentenced in New York by Judge Juan Merchan on 34 felony convictions. Seems like something the former prosecutor might mention while a global TV audience was watching.
This leaves Donald Trump faced with an impossible choice when it comes to facing Kamala Harris. The felon is aware that the Vice President will be cross-examining him. He's also aware that he doesn't want his base to think he's a coward. So in response, he doesn't respond. He makes demands.
Trump wants a debate to be held on Fox News, and VP Harris is fine with that. The truth is the truth no matter where she tells it.
And he knows that, too.
On Monday, VP Harris announced she plans to be on that debate stage on September 10th, which will be hosting by ABC News. The VP is generously taking on a "let's wait and see" attitude about whether or not Trump will show.
If not, Kamala Harris will get a whole lot of uninterrupted free airtime to have a globally televised Town Hall. It'll probably make her even more popular and help her raise even more money.
Checkmate, King Baby! There's honestly no way to win against Kamala.