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Do you recall all the bluster on these threads about how when Biden comes out of his bunker and faces Trump in debate all will be made clear and exposed. His dementia will be plain for all to see.

Now the tune has changed. Now there seems to be no need for debates.

It is idle to argue that debates do not affect elections. If they do not why were they agreed to in the first place? So the question becomes has the forum been so altered as to justify running the risks of media criticism 27 days before election with people already voting by withdrawing? At a time 27 days before the election when Trump is behind in the polls, or at least conventionally believed to be so? What is the upside for Trump compared to the downside?

I believe that the downside for Trump has been very thoroughly disclosed in this thread.
The change in the debate format works directly against the President, and in favor of candidate Biden for the reasons being discussed. The fact that no single poster has taken the time to sort them and tabulate the responses does not mean that no convincing response has been given.

It’s also quite the correct thing to do when the negotiations are complete and an agreement has been reached, if one party to the agreement unilaterally makes structural changes, the other party’s response should be to walk away as if no agreement ever existed.

We’ll disagree on the utility of “debates as entertainment” in influencing voter choice, or voter turnout.
We’ve always had debates, therefore people expect them. But I’ve seen no evidence that minds are changed (at least since 2016) by debate performance.

As to the quote: “risks of media criticism”.... You’re a joker.

There is no upside scenario.

Exactly.

The narrative will now be that Trump is scared to debate if he can’t do it in person and talk over Biden.

That’s what the news will say and what social media will say.

And frankly, that’s what it looks like. It will further weaken his election chances.

If he could just debate like a decent person like last night’s Pence performance, he COULD WIN THIS WALKING AWAY.

But, for whatever reason, he refuses to do it and take defeat from victory.