Prelude to the Showdown
As Kamala Harris and Donald Trump prepare for their first presidential debate on September 10, their campaigns are embroiled in a heated dispute over a seemingly minor but crucial detail: the microphones. While the debate promises to be a pivotal moment in the election season, the ongoing battle over whether the microphones should remain muted during the opponent’s speaking time has taken center stage.
The mic muting saga: A historical context
The debate over muted microphones isn’t new. The practice was initially requested by Joe Biden during his 2020 presidential campaign to curb interruptions, a move that was reluctantly accepted by Trump’s team. Their first debate was marred by constant interruptions, culminating in Biden’s exasperated plea: “Will you shut up, man?”
Analysts suggest that Trump’s campaign is keen to maintain the muting rule for the Harris debate, owing to the positive reception of Trump’s more restrained performance in his recent debate with Biden. The rule effectively made interruptions impossible, allowing for a more orderly exchange.
Trump’s stance: A study in contradiction
Interestingly, Trump himself seems less invested in the muting rule. “[It] doesn’t matter to me. I’d rather have [the microphones] probably on,” he said on Monday, adding, “But the agreement was that it would be the same as it was last time. In that case, it was muted.”
In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump announced that he had “reached an agreement” with ABC for the September 10 debate, emphasizing that “Rules will be the same as the last CNN Debate,” which included the muted mics. However, he accused the network of being “unfair” while assuring his followers that the debate would be “fair and equitable.”
Harris campaign’s gambit: Unmuted mics
The Harris campaign, however, is pushing to alter the agreed-upon rules just two weeks before the debate, advocating for both candidates’ microphones to remain unmuted throughout. They believe this could potentially expose a more unfiltered and irritable Trump, who would be audible even during Harris’s speaking time.
“Our understanding is that Trump’s handlers prefer the muted microphone because they don’t think their candidate can act presidential for 90 minutes on his own,” a Harris spokesman said.
Democratic strategist Ameshia Cross told the BBC, “The reason she’s saying to unmute the mics is because Trump is uncontrolled.” Cross cited Trump’s rallies and social media posts, which often feature personal attacks against Harris, as indicative of his debate approach.
The strategic implications
Strategists argue that Trump’s potential outbursts, if his microphone remains unmuted, could alienate undecided voters, particularly women, voters of color, and young voters. Republican strategist Kevin Madden noted, “One of the ways to win over swing voters is not by personal attacks. By nature, they don’t love partisan politics.”
This tactic is especially critical in battleground states like Pennsylvania, where the debate will be held. “He’s very prone to having intemperate outbursts and… I think the [Harris] campaign would want viewers to hear [that],” a source familiar with the debate negotiations told Politico.
The Trump campaign’s focus
Reports suggest that Trump’s campaign is eager for their candidate to focus on key issues rather than personal attacks. An ally close to Trump told the BBC’s Katty Kay that Trump’s path to victory lies in discussing the economy, the border, and crime.
Republican strategist Ford O’Connell said that the Harris campaign’s push to unmute the microphones is an attempt to divert the debate from substantive issues to viral moments. “They’re not sure they can win on the issues so what they’re looking for is any way possible to have a viral moment,” he said.
The stakes of September 10
The upcoming debate could be a defining moment in the election. O’Connell recommends that the Trump campaign should continue to push for muted microphones, as these were the rules initially set by the Democratic campaign. “We let you write the rules, we are sticking with the same rules,” he suggested as a message to the Harris campaign.
Cross, however, believes the Harris campaign holds the upper hand, calling Trump’s bluff. “If he does not want them unmuted, he’s going to look weak, like he cannot control himself,” she said.
As the clock ticks down to September 10, one thing is clear: the debate over debate logistics is far from over. The outcome could set the tone for what might be the most consequential political showdown leading up to Election Day.