- The Washington Times - Wednesday, May 15, 2024

The Republican National Committee wants to double President Biden’s two-debate proposal, pitching a plan to hold one debate a month in June, July, August and September.

In a memo released shortly after the president announced he accepted CNN’s invitation to a June 27 debate, Trump campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said Mr. Biden’s proposal for debates in June and September are not enough.

“With the soaring inflation of Bidenomics costing America’s hardworking families at the grocery store and at the gas pump, with our border being totally overrun, with chaos at home, chaos across the world, chaos on our college campuses, we should have one debate per month,” the two advisers wrote in a memo addressed to the Biden campaign team.

Mr. Trump on Wednesday accepted Mr. Biden’s proposal that the two participate in televised debates in June and September. 

Mr. Trump posted on his Truth Social site that he was “Ready and Willing to Debate” Mr. Biden. Both have accepted an invitation to face off at CNN’s studio in Atlanta on June 27 and in an ABC News venue on Sept. 10. 

Both debates circumvent the schedule set by the Commission on Presidential Debates, which traditionally decides who will conduct the debates as well as where and when they will take place. 

Mr. Trump posted, “I would strongly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds. That’s only because he doesn’t get them. Just tell me when. I’ll be there. ‘Let’s get ready to Rumble!!!’”

Mr. LaCivita and Ms. Wiles said in addition to adding the July and August debates, a vice-presidential debate should be included.

“Additional dates will allow voters to have maximum exposure to the records and future visions of each candidate,” they wrote. 

• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.

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