Two spokespeople for two different organizations are denying a claim that Joe Biden’s reelection campaign is pushing for a “format change” that would allow the president “to be seated” during the upcoming presidential debates, Senafor editor Max Tani and Reuters reporter David Shepardson report.
“Right-of-center news and commentary” site Washington Reporter on Monday tweeted, “Per two sources, including one at CNN, the Biden Campaign is trying to renegotiate the debate rules to allow Biden to be seated.”
The Washington Reporter tweet called the move “a major format change from what was agreed to.”
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According to Tani, a CNN spokesperson on Monday refuted the site's claim.
“A CNN spokesperson tells me this is not accurate," Tani wrote shortly after the Washington Reporter tweet.
Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munizco-signed Tani’s reporting, writing on X, “As CNN said, this claim is completely untrue.”
CNN on Saturday released more details of the “debate parameters agreed upon” by Biden and Donald Trump, including that “microphones will be muted throughout the debate except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak” and no studio audience will be present.
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The CNN staff report notes it’s unlikely “candidates other than Biden and Trump” will meet the “qualifications for the debate.”
Per CNN:
All participating debaters must appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency and receive at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters that meet CNN’s standards for reporting
"Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) has received at least 15% in three qualifying polls so far and is currently on the ballot in six states, making him currently eligible for 89 Electoral College votes,” CNN reports.
See the tweets above or at this link.
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