Trump says he won't debate Harris again
CBSSEP 1 2024
Trump Declines Second Debate Against Harris
Above: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris greet as they debate for the first time during the presidential election campaign at The National Constitution Center on Sept. 10, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Image copyright: Win McNamee/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
ABC News tried, and failed, to single-handedly tip the scales against Donald Trump in Tuesday's presidential debate. The network's moderators relentlessly "fact-checked" Trump while giving his opponent mostly a free pass. This left-leaning favoritism left Trump fighting a three-on-one battle, as noted by the former president and his supporters. The lopsided scrutiny reinforced long-standing beliefs about mainstream media's anti-conservative agenda — the American people don't need to witness another biased debate circus.
Democratic narrative
Vice President Harris soundly won the ABC-hosted debate. By exposing Trump's weak grasp of facts, xenophobia, dangerous positions, and impulsive behavior, Harris made a bold statement to the American people. Because this race is still so tight in the polls, Americans deserve another square-off to further expose Trump's flaws. If a final debate comes to pass, it should follow ABC's lead, which demonstrated that maintaining neutrality is possible while holding candidates accountable for their statements.