Philadelphia Prepares for the Big Debate
This Tuesday, September 10, the buzz in Philadelphia is reaching a fever pitch as citizens gear up for the much-anticipated presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. Central Time at the National Constitution Center, this is the first time these two candidates will face off ahead of the November 5 election.
What to Expect from the Debate
In a 90-minute showdown, the debate is set to be a tightly controlled affair. According to the rules released by ABC on September 5, questions will come exclusively from the hosts, who will be David Muir, the anchor of World News Tonight, and Linsey Davis, anchor of ABC News Live Prime. Candidates will not have the luxury of bringing in any props or pre-written notes, ensuring the dialogue is as spontaneous as possible.
The debate will also feature microphones that are only active for the candidate currently speaking, meaning that when it’s one candidate’s turn to respond, the other will be silenced. This setup aims to keep the focus on the content of their speeches and not on interruptions.
Debate Breakdown
Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to questions and another two minutes for rebuttals. A one-minute follow-up for any clarifications or additional comments rounds out their speaking time. Notably, there will be no opening statements; instead, the spotlight will merely shine on their responses during the event.
After the debate, each candidate will be allotted two minutes for closing statements. Interestingly, Trump won the coin toss and chose to deliver the final word, something that could potentially influence the lingering thoughts voters may have after the debate wraps up.
How to Tune In
Local ABC affiliates will broadcast the debate, making it easy for residents in Philadelphia and its surrounding areas to catch all the action. For those in San Antonio, Austin, Waco, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Laredo, and the Rio Grande Valley, be sure to check out your local ABC channel for the live event. And if some viewers are experiencing issues with their local affiliate, there’s good news: the debate will also be available for streaming on the ABC News Live website, as well as on Disney+ and Hulu.
Looking Ahead
While this debate will be the only scheduled meet-up between Harris and Trump before Election Day, there is chatter about an upcoming October debate that has yet to be officially scheduled. The Harris campaign hinted at the possibility of another debate opportunity in October, but no date or details have been confirmed yet.
In the interim, the vice presidential debate is set for October 1, featuring Democratic candidate Tim Walz and Republican candidate J.D. Vance. CNN also announced that they have invited the vice presidential candidates for a fall debate, although only Vance has accepted the invitation thus far.
Final Thoughts
As residents of Philadelphia brace for this imminent confrontation, it’s clear that the debate will serve as a significant moment in the election season, giving voters a firsthand look at how the candidates plan to tackle pressing national issues. It is an exciting time full of possibilities, and you won’t want to miss a second of it!
