The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), the body responsible for conducting the US presidential debates, announced on Friday that the second presidential debate, scheduled to be held on October 15, would not proceed. The announcement came days after the CPD decided to switch the format of the debate from an in-person event to a virtual debate. The decision, which was apparently made without consultation with the two rival candidates, was opposed by President Donald Trump.
The switch had been prompted by Trump testing positive for COVID-19 on October 1. After Trump had refused to participate in a virtual debate, Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden scheduled a televised town hall debate for himself on the evening of October 15.
The CPD issued a statement on Friday, stating, “It is now apparent there will be no debate on October 15, and the CPD will turn its attention to preparations for the final presidential debate scheduled for October 22.”
The second presidential debate was to be held as a "town hall style" event in Miami, Florida. The final debate is planned to be held on October 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Trump campaign accused the CPD of being biased towards Biden. “There is no medical reason to stop the October 15 debate in Miami from proceeding as scheduled, since the president will be healthy and ready to debate,” Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh was quoted by Reuters as saying.
However, the Biden campaign targeted Trump over the cancellation. “It’s shameful that Donald Trump ducked the only debate in which the voters get to ask the questions—but it’s no surprise,” Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates was quoted by Reuters as saying.
"The commission said both candidates have agreed to participate in the October 22 debate and would be subject to required coronavirus testing, mask-wearing and social distancing protocol," Reuters reported.
There had been calls to cancel the remaining two debates after the first debate between Trump and Biden on September 29 turned out to be an acrimonious affair.
