
As unfortunate as it may be given their first go, United States President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are scheduled to meet twice more for presidential debates ahead of the November 3 election.
Oh, joy.
Debates were set for October 15 and 22, but a lot has happened in the 10 days since debate one: namely, Trump's coronavirus diagnosis and hospitalisation late last week.
Watch: Trump and Biden in the first US presidential debate. Post continues below video.
This week's vice presidential debate between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris ramped up measures, just slightly, with plexiglass screens erected on stage to separate the candidates - both of whom tested negative for COVID-19 ahead of the event.
Then on Thursday (Friday AEDT), the Commission on Presidential Debates announced the second presidential debate will feature the candidates virtually rather than onstage together.
Given 2020, that doesn't sound too out of the ordinary. But not everyone was happy (guess who!)
Just hours later, it appears that debate is now... not happening.
It's all very confusing, and we mostly just feel bad for the poor people at the commission who are no doubt having a really fun day at work.
This is what we currently know:
A virtual debate.
The second debate has been scheduled to go ahead at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.
It was originally meant to take place at the University of Michigan, but it determined it wouldn't be safe to host the campaigns, plus so many journalists and guests during a pandemic. That makes... so much sense.
Anyway, after Pence and Harris' debate, in which the candidates were separated by glass panels and regularly shown in split screen shots, the Commission on Presidential Debates clearly realised... this could definitely just happen over Zoom.
So, it announced a plan to go virtual.
The Second Presidential Debate will be VIRTUAL, @debates says ! pic.twitter.com/W3ZXKVLEbO
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) October 8, 2020
Top Comments