Should Biden opt out of any debates with Trump?

[Seasider]

There is apparently a growing number of Biden supporters advising him not to reschedule any debates with Trump. The fear is having debates will give the Trump campaign a lifeline they are desperately needing to improve his poll numbers and Trump will just use it to spout his right-wing conspiracy drivel.

I get the reasoning behind the idea but I think there a lot of voters wanting to see these 2 square off. Biden has a big lead in the polls but my personal opinion is the race is closer than people think. You also don't want to fuel the absurd rumor that Trump and his supporters keep floating which is that Biden is in cognitive decline. I also disagree with Joe Lockhart's example of Hillary's domination of the 2016 debates helping Trump in the polls. Hillary's poll numbers actually improved after those debates. The issue in my opinion was a combination of Hillary's campaign taking their foot off the gas after the debates allowing Trump to regroup and then the idiotic decision by Comey to reopen the investigation into Hillary's emails 2 weeks before election day.

https://www.newsweek.com/supporters-urge-joe-biden-not-debate-trump-applaud-hosts-canceling-over-covid-19-concerns-1522178

[JI7]

1. What hurt Hillary was Russian trolls with Comey to top it off

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Absolutely not. Biden is the return to normalcy, and that means no cheap tricks like...

skipping debates.

Let Trump skip 'em if he wants to-- then he gets called the coward.

[jrthin]

22. This!

[not_the_one]

31. He IS a coward. He will never show up to debate.

He KNOWS he can't complete a coherent sentence, and would be humiliated before millions.

He will insist on controlling the debate guidelines. THAT will never happen. It will be his perfect excuse to not debate.

Just like him coming down with the covid 19 virus will be his excuse to drop out, and "self isolate". Then the next time we will hear from him will be a tweet from Saudi Arabia.

I hope he stands strong. I would much prefer to see him die in jail, penniless. There MUST be accountability. But that is just me.

[elleng]

3. 'Reschedule?' Is that a joke?

IF tramp agrees, and actually participates, V.P. Biden should jump in eagerly, and be his normal, intelligent self, 1, 2, 3, or however many are scheduled.

[Bev54]

4. No!

[OAITW r.2.0]

5. Yes.

Trump - HA, Trump destroyed all norms. F Trump..

[Sneederbunk]

6. It remains my opinion that Trump will refuse to debate.

[paleotn]

11. Mine as well...

I don't think his handlers want him anywhere near a debate. It would only make things worse. He's bound to go off the rails and then quit the debate in a huff just like his pressers. It's just a disaster waiting to happen.

[Laelth]

7. Yes. All of them.

We don’t need debates this year. What is there to debate? Joe’s right. This is a fight for the soul of the republic. The choices are clear. Joe should not even consider standing on a stage with the Orange Menace as an “equal.” Doing so would pay Trump a compliment he does not deserve.

-Laelth

[H2O Man]

32. +1

[OAITW r.2.0]

8. Pass a Basic Intelligence Test?

We do not need stupid Presidents.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

9. Absolutely,

it'll drive tRump nuts!

[Squinch]

10. Yes. Don't legitimize that asshole and his lies by debating him.

[paleotn]

12. Won't have to. Donnie will opt out.

[Sogo]

13. I think they should have the debates in the same format as

the last Dem debate, between Biden and Sanders:

Both candidates socially distanced, along with the moderator on stage, and no audience. That would benefit Joe the most, because Trump feeds off the energy of the audience and just goes for zingers, not substance. Joe will be all substance, and that will win it for him.

My only concern about Trump in the debates is that he will use it as an opportunity to broadcast to a TV audience of millions the conspiracy theories that the Republicans in the Senate are now laundering for the Russians and Bill Barr's team. All the "Biden corruption in Ukraine" sh*t....Joe better be ready for that. He's gotta know it's coming....

[herding cats]

14. My opinion is Trump is trying not to debate Biden.

Which makes sense. Sane person vs. mass murder of US citizens. Who would want to draw that distinction?

[RockRaven]

15. My idea for debates is this: 3 debates, one of which is "town hall" BUT with a big twist...

All remote/video. Biden in a studio. Trump in a studio. Reporters, or for the "town hall" so-called normal citizens, in various studios. Covid-responsible conditions (obviously everyone off-camera can be masked, but it is bad for TV when those on camera are.

And here's the important part -- the broadcast feed only broadcasts ONE audio feed at a time, from the party who is allowed to speak. STRICT adherence to the preplanned schedule of A time to ask a question, B time to respond, C time to prompt rebuttal, D time to rebut, E time to acknowledge rebuttal and move on to the next questipn, F. If anyone talks out of turn it is not broadcast live, but it is recorded and supplied to the networks for later use/analysis. Yes that even applies to reporters/questioners.

Multilocation video/audio is a disaster when it comes to cross-talk because of time lags, so cross-talk must be avoided. The solution is muting those without authorization to speak. If people want to lie or go off topic, the other party or moderators can address that in their next authorized speaking time, rather than attempting a time-lagged interruption which makes it unwatchable/unlistenable.

As a totally coincidental side benefit, this format would make the person with the most discipline and experience and insight and empathy appear to the best advantage compared to the person with the greater vanity and narcissism and ignorance and lack of self control. At least I think so.

[fierywoman]

27. Yes!

[crickets]

36. +1

[keithbvadu2]

38. "the broadcast feed only broadcasts ONE audio feed at a time" - Good one!

"the broadcast feed only broadcasts ONE audio feed at a time" - Good one!

[RDANGELO]

16. No - the candidates are expected to debate.

The candidates are expected to debate just like they are expected to release their tax returns. Any indication of ducking debates will lose him votes.

[Awsi Dooger]

33. Exactly, I wouldn't want Biden to break precedent

Debates have been part of the process since 1976, if I remember correctly. Nothing between 1960 and 1976.

There is no question Trump would have wimped out if he were leading in the polls. As trailer he will want to debate every night. I have no idea where this nonsense comes from that Trump would back out. Same flawed thinking as those have always insisted Trump would resign.

There is considerable risk for Biden in debate but great reward also. A break-even performance head to head in the first debate would all but cement the lead.

[42bambi]

17. Biden can simply say, how do you debate someone who has lied - 20,000 times

[Funtatlaguy]

18. No. I want Joe to say these five words at the debate.

Person, Woman, Man, camera, tv.
Or, Putting, it, another, way.
Americans, women, men, hate, you.

[KentuckyWoman]

24. +1 haha

[blm]

19. No. It's Trump campaign who doesn't want the debate.

They are trying to bait Biden campaign into canceling.

[Zenlitened]

20. Refusing to debate is a truly stupid idea, unless...

...unless their goal is to help the Trumpists brag that "Biden scared to debate Trump."

Lockhart and anyone else advising Biden to dodge debates should be shown directly out the door.

How is this even up for discussion?

[nsd]

21. No.

It would only cost Biden votes.

[KentuckyWoman]

23. No. My humble opinion.

Give us 2. 1 domestic. The other foreign.

There is no reason they need to be in the same city let alone the same room.

[Wanderlust988]

26. How about just one debate virtually?

I actually am not worried about how Biden will perform. I just don't wanna hear Trump's lies anymore than I have to. The whole debate will just be a Trump performance of lies, lies, and damn lies. He'll lie about himself, Obama, Biden, and everyone else in between.

[still_one]

28. Newsweek seems to becoming more like The Intercept. Pushing bullshit. Who are these growing

number of “Biden supporters”

Nlymthing I think needs to be done is virtual debates

[2naSalit]

29. Why bother?

[tman]

30. Tabloid garbage. "supporters urge"

lol okay.

And no, he shouldn't opt out of any debates with trump. Biden is a scrappy debater. He can handle himself fine.

[area51]

34. Tbh, I don't think Trump is able to debate at this point.

#DementiaDonnie

#LameDuckTrump

#TrumpVirus

[Dream Girl]

35. Not on your life!

[In It to Win It]

37. Debates gives oxygen to the Trump fire