Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican rival Donald Trump have agreed to the rules for the first presidential debate in Philadelphia. The debate, which will be aired on ABC next week, will feature muted microphones when the other candidate is speaking. Both campaigns had been in dispute over the guidelines, with Harris pushing for live microphones and Trump wanting them to be turned off. ABC clarified that microphones will be live only for the candidate speaking and muted for the other.
The debate will last 90 minutes with two commercial breaks and be moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis without an audience. Trump had previously threatened to pull out of the debate, claiming he would not be given a fair opportunity. The debate is set to take place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, a critical swing state, with 19 electoral college votes. The agreed-upon rules include no opening statements, two-minute closing statements, and no pre-written notes or props on stage.
During the debate, Harris and Trump will have the opportunity to give two-minute answers to questions, two-minute rebuttals, and one extra minute for follow-ups. Trump won the coin toss for podium placement and the order of closing statements, with Harris choosing the right podium position on the screen. The guidelines aim to ensure a structured and fair debate between the two candidates.
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