Joe Biden has agreed to participate in three presidential debates against Donald Trump, but refused to commit to a fourth. The Trump campaign was pushing for more believing that Americans need to compare ” President Trump’s vibrant leadership and Biden’s confused meandering.”
Biden’s campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon, confirmed that the former vice president would debate Trump on Sept. 29, Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.
In a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates Dillon wrote:
Joe Biden looks forward to facing Donald Trump in a multi-debate series that the American people have come to expect from their leaders; we hope that President Trump would not break that tradition or make excuses for a refusal to participate.
However, trouble is already brewing over the where the debates will be held. The University of Michigan, which was set to host the second debate, has decided to cancel it’s commitment due to concerns over the coronavirus.
University President Mark Schlissel informed the Commission of the decision to withdraw from hosting in a letter where he said:
Given the scale and complexity of the work we are undertaking to help assure a safe and healthy fall for our students, faculty and staff and limited visitors – and in consideration of the public health guidelines in our state as well as advice from our own experts – we feel it is not feasible for us to safely host the presidential debate as planned.
Michigan, which is run by democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer, has had some of the strictest lock-downs in the country due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.
The first presidential debate will be held at the University of Notre Dame. The second debate will now be hosted by the Adrienne Arsht Center of Performing Arts in Miami, Florida, and the third debate will take place at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.
The vice presidential debate is Oct. 7 at the University of Utah between Vice President Mike Pence and the as-yet-to-be-announced running mate of Joe Biden.
