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ABC News DENIES Kamala Harris' last-minute microphone request for debate with Trump as the full set of rules are revealed
The final debate rules that ABC News is presenting to the campaigns casts aside a push by Vice President Kamala Harris' team to keep candidates' microphones hot during tense live exchanghes.
Instead, the mics will be live only for the candidate who has been designated as the speaker – and muted during their opponents' times.
That snatches away an 11th hour bid by Team Harris to try to reverse a key rule of the June CNN smackdown between Trump and President Joe Biden, where the president's meandering answers helped bring an end to his reeleciton campaign.
After Harris became the effective nominee, her team tried to negotiate changes, arguing that the hot mic could allow Trump to make an unforced error – and taunting him by saying he lacked the capacity to act 'presidential' for a full 90 minutes.
A source confirmed the rules to DailyMail.com. Campaigns are being asked to agree to them in total.
The showdown is set for September 10th in Philadelphia, representing another key moment in the campaign. Harris continues to introduce herself to the public, and is riding a post-convention poll 'bounce' after turning the race into a toss up contest by standing in for Biden.
ABC News is rejecting a push by the Harris camp to keep microphones live while an opponent speaks in the upcoming presidential debate, in the rules campaigns are being asked to agree to
There will be no audience, as in the CNN debate, in a move that denies candidates the chance to try to score prohibited applause with zingers. There will be two ABC moderators: David Muir and Linsey Davis in the 90-minute program.
Props and pre-written notes are not allowed, and candidates will simply get blank paper, a pen, and a water bottle.
The rules allow for two-minute answers, as well as rebuttals lasting the same time. An additional minute is allowed for follow-ups and rebuttal.
'Our understanding is that Trump's handlers prefer the muted microphone because they don't think their candidate can act presidential for 90 minutes on his own,' said Harris advisor Brian Fallon
David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC will be the sole moderators
In a sign of how prior debates have sometimes gone off the rails, the channel's moderators will seek to enforce the time deals and keep a 'civilized discussion.'
'Our understanding is that Trump's handlers prefer the muted microphone because they don't think their candidate can act presidential for 90 minutes on his own,' said Harris advisor Brian Fallon amid the negotiations this week.
Trump this week attacked the network and threatened to pull out over the microphone issue, then later said he was okay with mics being left on even while sticking to a deal his team negotiated with Biden.
'Why would I do the Debate against Kamala Harris on that network?' he asked.
Both campaigns appreciate the importance of the debate, just over a week away. Harris has eschewed the traditional travel sprint after her convention, instead organizing a two-day bus tour in Georgia while focusing on debate prep.
Trump takes his won approach to getting ready for the debate, but has also spoken of its importance, and has been giving a series of interviews – including with DailyMail.com Wednesday – to prepare for incoming.
Trump campaing advisor Corey Lewandowski said on call with reporters Thursday that Harris' team tried to pressure the network into altering the debate rules in other ways, including allowing candidates to bring prepared notes on stage.
The 5' 4' candidate also wanted to be seated instead of standing behind respective podiums against the 6' 3' former president, Lewandowsi said.
But the Harris-Walz campaign told DailyMail.com that the latest claims from the Trump camp are false.