Trump’s ‘absurd’ debate request
Опубликованно 30.09.2020 17:00
With just 35 days to go until the election, Mr Biden is currently beating the incumbent in national polls, although his lead in several key battleground states has narrowed in recent weeks.
The leaders are expected to spar over the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout, rising racial tensions and street violence, and the shock Supreme Court nomination battle following the death of left-wing icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg this month.
Mr Trump will also certainly face barbs – either from Mr Biden or moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News – about his leaked tax returns published by The New York Times last week that showed he engaged in legal, but extensive tax avoidance.
The US President, meanwhile, has indicated he intends to attack his Democratic rival about his record after 47 years in Washington and allegedly corrupt business dealings of his son Hunter Biden in Ukraine, Russia and China.
The Trump campaign has also again stepped up attacks on Mr Biden’s mental fitness in the hours leading up to the debate, after appearing to back away from the issue amid concerns among Republicans that the tactic could backfire.
By setting the bar too low, Republicans feared, even a competent performance by the 78-year-old with no major gaffes or meltdowns would be widely viewed as a win.
But the Trump campaign, which has made much of Mr Biden’s apparent use of teleprompters during interviews, has reportedly requested that a third party be allowed to inspect the ears of each debater for electronic devices or transmitters.
Fox News anchor and moderator Chris Wallace. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty/AFP
The Biden camp has declined the ear check, Trump campaign sources told Fox News. They also said Mr Biden’s campaign had in recent weeks requested two breaks during the 90-minute, commercial-free program, a request in turn declined by the Trump camp.
It comes after Mr Trump demanded Mr Biden take a drug test prior to the debate, insinuating he was senile and would take something to enhance his mental acuity – a suggestion laughed off by the Democrat.
But Mr Biden, who has been known to lose his temper when prodded, has acknowledged keeping his cool will be essential. “I hope I don’t get baited into a brawl with this guy, because that’s the only place he’s comfortable,” he told supporters.
Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield denied they had requested breaks and called the earpiece check “absurd”. “His staff seems concerned that he may not do well tonight and they’re already laying the groundwork for how they’re going to lie about why,” she told reporters. “It is completely absurd. Of course, he’s not wearing an earpiece and we never asked for breaks.”
Ms Bedingfield hit back that the Trump team had requested that Wallace not mention the number of COVID-19 deaths – which last week passed the grim 200,000 milestone – during the debate.
Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh told Fox News “this is a lie and it never happened”. “This is the height of playing politics with a public health crisis,” he said. “Biden is trying to distract from the facts that he won’t submit to an inspection for earpieces, won’t take a drug test, and needs multiple breaks during the 90-minute debate.”
Mr Trump, for his part, appears to shift between tearing down his opponent’s mental fitness to attempting to lower expectations by painting himself as the underdog against the career politician who actually has the advantage.
If the Democrat prevails, “I will have lost to the worst presidential candidate in the history of politics”, he told a crowd of supporters last week.
The debate, which is being held in an atrium at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio, kicks off at 7pm on Tuesday – 11am Sydney time.
frank.chung@news.com.au
– with AFP
Категория: Бизнес
