By Hannah Haynes
HHaynes@cherryroad.com
The traditional format of presidential debates faces major changes as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to back out of tradition and instead face off in direct debates hosted by CNN and ABC news. This development follows a viral video in which Biden challenged Trump to engage outside the constraints of the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).
The decision to stray from tradition may have significant implications for the 2024 presidential debate schedule, which was planned in advance by the CPD.
Utah’s own University of Utah in Salt Lake City was set to host the third and final debate on October 9, following debates at Texas State University on September 16 and Virginia State University on October 1. The CPD announced this schedule in November 2023, despite neither candidate confirming their participation at the time.
The move to bypass the CPD is a dramatic shift from the long-standing tradition of structured, moderated debates that have long been seen as a staple of American presidential elections for decades. The CPD, originally established to ensure fair and orderly exchanges, now finds its role in question.
Biden’s public challenge to Trump included a direct taunt:
“Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020,” said Joe Biden via social media platform X. “Since then, he hasn’t shown up for a debate. Now he’s acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal. I’ll even do it twice, so let’s pick the dates, Donald.”
Shortly after, the two candidates agreed to meet on June 17 and again on Sept. 10, with the details rapidly taking shape.
The University of Utah, which was chosen to host the final debate, had already begun significant preparations. Kingsbury Hall was selected as the venue, and the university requested and was granted $6.5 million from the state’s general fund for the necessary supplies and equipment. These preparations are now in limbo as the traditional debate format faces an uncertain future.
Lawmakers and university administrators are now left to deal with this new reality. The CPD’s carefully laid plans, including a vice presidential debate scheduled for Sept. 25 at Lafayette College in Easton, Penn., now hang in the balance as well.
The shift away from the CPD’s structured debates points to a broader trend in political campaigning, where candidates increasingly seek to control their messaging and avoid traditional media filters and questioning.
Critics argue that this undermines the democratic process by reducing the opportunity for voters to see candidates challenged by impartial moderators, concerned about the loss of a standardized, nonpartisan platform that ensures fair play and equal opportunity for all candidates.
Supporters of the changes argue that a less strict environment could encourage more authentic and spontaneous exchanges, allowing candidates to showcase their true personalities and political beliefs; maintaining that this shift aims to reduce the limitations imposed by the CPD’s rigid rules and time constraints.
As the scene of the 2024 election navigates into uncharted territory, the American public will continue to watch closely to see how these changes will impact the future of political discourse in the United States.