The first and likely only presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is less than one week away. And while it appears as though both campaigns have come to terms on the rules for the ABC News-hosted event, Harris’ team wants the public to know they are not happy with at least one of them.
On Thursday’s show, Megyn was joined by Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon, and Andrew Walworth of RealClearPolitics to talk about the ongoing drama surrounding microphones at the debate and why the Harris campaign is making such an issue of it.
To Mute or Not to Mute?
Late last month, reports began circulating that the Harris and Trump camps were having trouble coming to terms on the rules of the ABC News debate scheduled for September 10 – specifically, whether or not the microphones should be muted when a candidate is not answering a question.
While the Trump campaign stated it expected the debate to adhere to the rules that had been set in cooperation with the Biden team when the event was first agreed to in May, the Harris camp tried to make it seem as though it was the GOP hopeful who was changing norms.
“Trump’s handlers prefer the muted microphone because they don’t think their candidate can act presidential for 90 minutes on his own,” Harris spokesman Brian Fallon said. “[Harris] is ready to deal with Trump’s constant lies and interruptions in real time. Trump should stop hiding behind the mute button.”
Historically, candidates’ microphones were left open, even while the others on stage were speaking, which allowed for interruption and debate. The Biden campaign made muted mics a condition of accepting the CNN and ABC News debates against Trump. And while Trump was out on the campaign trail saying he was indifferent about the mic situation, spokesman Jason Miller said the Republican nominee “accepted the ABC debate under the exact same terms as the CNN debate.”
Won’t Let Go
ABC News finally entered the fray and confirmed the network would not be changing the rules and the mics will be muted as planned. But Harris has yet to drop the issue. “This was the subject of debate for weeks,” Megyn said. “The reports are that her team is very disappointed about this because she was looking to have… a moment.”
Politico reported that the vice president wanted to have a star turn similar to her “interrogation” of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his contentious 2018 Senate confirmation hearing. A source told the outlet that Harris “can’t have her Kavanaugh moment without sound on [the] mic.”
Sources from Harris’ camp also continued to insist the muted mics “will serve to shield Donald Trump from direct exchanges with the vice president,” which they “suspect” is the “primary reason for his campaign’s insistence on muted microphones.”
As Bevan noted, the absence of hot mics means Harris will also not be able to resurrect the “I’m speaking” tactic she used against then-Vice President Mike Pence in the 2020 debate that won her kudos on the left.
Harris’ Game Plan
Meanwhile, NBC News reported that Harris is officially in debate prep mode. She is apparently being coached “to avoid being pulled into Trump’s personal attacks by remaining calm and focused on talking about how her presidency would help everyday people.”
Additionally, she is “focusing on homing in on how to needle Trump to rattle him” because sources said the debate is “going to be less about substance and more about showcasing Harris as a woman who isn’t scared and isn’t going to cower and who is standing up to Trump and holding him accountable.”
For all that has been made about the rules and the microphones, Walworth doesn’t believe any of it will much matter. “I think they were going to debate no matter what they both need the debate,” he said. “Trump has been practicing for this every time he goes out and speaks to someone on a podcast or a town hall or with a press conference, so I think he’s ready for the debate. The big question is: Is she ready?”
You can check out Megyn’s full interview with Bevan, Cannon, and Walworth by tuning in to episode 880 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.