Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will confront their two radically different visions for the future of the United States on Tuesday in a highly anticipated debate in the race for the White House.
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After weeks of back-and-forth over the location, date and terms of their televised contest, ABC has announced the rules that will apply and have been agreed to by both sides.
The debate will take place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, a large metropolis in Pennsylvania in the eastern United States. This state was not chosen at random: it is widely considered the most important of the swing states, those states that could swing both Democrats and Republicans in November.
The candidates will take the stage on Tuesday at 9 p.m. local time for a 90-minute debate broadcast live, with two commercial breaks.
At the helm to moderate the discussions: ABC presenters Linsey Davis and David Muir, in a room without an audience.
The question of whether or not to mute a candidate’s microphone when he or she is no longer speaking – as was the case during the debate at the end of June between Joe Biden and Donald Trump – has been the subject of heated discussions in recent weeks.
Kamala Harris’ team wanted to keep the microphones open, hoping that her Republican rival would interrupt her untimely and launch into his usual digressions – and thus show himself in an unpresidential light.
But Donald Trump’s team categorically refused, accusing the Democrats of wanting to change the rules they had already agreed on.
Each side therefore accused the other of being cowardly on this issue.
But ABC has finally decided, and the microphones of the two candidates will only be turned on when they are given the floor.
Only the moderators of the debate will be allowed to ask questions, and no topics or questions will be shared in advance with either side.
Candidates will not present opening remarks, diving straight into the question-and-answer portion. Each candidate will have two minutes to answer a question, while the opponent will have two minutes to respond.
An additional minute will be allowed for any “additional remarks, clarifications, or responses,” according to the rules.
At the end of the debate, the candidates will have two minutes to present their conclusions. After a drawing of lots, Donald Trump won the right to choose to speak last.
The Vice President and the former President will stand behind a lectern for the entire debate. Props to support the demonstrations, such as prepared notes, will not be permitted.
They will each have a pen, sheets of paper and a bottle of water.
Candidates’ advisors will not be allowed to contact them during commercial breaks.
