The Super Tuesday (March 5) primary election has all but ensured a likely rematch of the 2020 presidential election that will see voters choose between Donald Trump AND Joe Biden for the next president.
With two major candidates remaining, one of the big questions that remain is whether both will agree to the presidential debates.
What happened: Trump notably skipped Republican primary debates during the 2024 election cycle, leaving his opponents to argue among themselves.
The former president frequently launched counterprogramming, including television interviews and speeches that pushed back against Republican debates.
While Trump wasn’t ready to debate his Republican counterparts and said his strong poll ratings established he didn’t need to, the former president is ready to debate Biden publicly.
“It is important, for the good of our country, that Joe Biden and I discuss issues so vital to America and the American people,” Trump said Wednesday on his Truth Social account. “Therefore, I call for debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYWHERE! Debates can be run by the corrupt DNC, or its subsidiary, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).”
Trump said he looked forward to a response.
Biden did not publicly respond to the debate invitation.
“I know Donald Trump’s thirst for attention and his struggle to expand his appeal beyond the MAGA base — and that’s a conversation we’ll have at an appropriate time this cycle,” Biden’s campaign communications director said. Michael Tyler he said, as shared by the New York Post.
Controversy over moderators and rules for presidential debates has surrounded the 2020 election cycle with the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the CPD. The RNC subsequently withdrew from the organization.
There are currently three debates scheduled for the 2024 presidential election, with no confirmed participation by Trump or Biden. Third party candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. he might also qualify under current rules requiring 15% in polls. Kennedy Jr. stands at around 16.7% in RealClearPolitics’ aggregate polling score.
The scheduled debates are:
September 16, Texas
October 1, Virginia
October 9, Utah
A vice presidential debate is also scheduled for September 25 in Pennsylvania.
Related Link: Biden vs. Trump: President regains lead in polls for 2024 election for first time since January
Because it is important: Trump skipping the Republican primary debates resulted in lower viewership than the 2020 Republican debates, when Trump attended.
First debate: 12.8 million viewers, aired on Fox News, a unit of Fox Corporation FOXFOX.
Second Debate: 9.5 million viewers, broadcast on Fox Business
Third debate: 7.5 million viewers, aired on NBC News, a unit of Comcast Corporation CMCSA
Fourth debate: 4.1 million viewers, aired on NewsNation, a unit off Nexstar Media Group NXST
Fifth debate: 2.6 million viewers, broadcast on CNN, a unit of Discovery by Warner Bros WBD
Compare this data to the two 2020 presidential election debates, which saw huge audiences when Trump and Biden faced off on stage.
The first presidential debate in September 2020 had 73 million viewers. The figure was down 13% from the first presidential debate of 2016, with Trump and Trump Hillary Clinton. The debate was the third most-watched presidential debate of all time, behind only the 2016 debate and the 1980 debate between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter.
Fox News led the way for all networks and cable channels to broadcast the first debate with 17.8 million viewers, one of its largest programs ever. ABC, a unit of Walt Disney Co DISwas second with 12.6 million viewers.
The final presidential debate in October 2020, originally scheduled as the third debate, was watched by 63 million people with 15 networks covering the event. Fox News again ranked first with 14.7 million viewers. ABC and NBC each had more than 10 million viewers, followed by CNN with 7.2 million.
A second presidential debate was canceled due to Trump contracting COVID-19. Two debates for the 2024 presidential election were the fewest since the 1996 election.
The vice presidential debate between Mike Pence AND Kamala Harris it was viewed by 57.9 million people.
Biden and Trump also appeared in town halls on several broadcast outlets.
Based on the 2020 election, Fox could make the most of three presidential debates in 2024 if Trump and Biden agree to participate. Other networks could also benefit because they cover debates and can sell advertising during widely watched televised events.
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