A senior adviser to Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign has addressed lingering concerns about the upcoming debate, insisting that any controversy over the vice president’s willingness to participate has been resolved. Speaking on CNN’s “The Situation Room” Monday, Ian Sams dismissed claims that Harris was reluctant to debate, setting the record straight.
“That’s not entirely accurate,” Sams stated. “Let’s take a step back — when she became the nominee she agreed to the Sept. 10 debate.” He explained that the campaign has been in discussions with ABC regarding the format of the debate, and criticized Republican nominee Donald Trump for his inconsistent stance on the matter.
“Trump has been all over the place. He backed out. He attacked the debate,” Sams pointed out. “He said we should go over to Fox News before he decided to come back to the debate.” Sams further suggested that Trump’s team was secretly attempting to ensure microphones were muted during the debate. However, Sams noted that the issue seemed to have been resolved earlier that day, told CNBC.
“Today in Virginia, President Trump was asked about it, and he said, ‘It doesn’t matter to me. I’d probably rather have them on.’ So as far as we’re concerned, this debate is over, and we’re looking forward to the Sept. 10 debate,” Sams asserted.
When pressed on whether the Harris campaign had directly confirmed the microphone issue with Trump’s team, Sams reiterated his confidence, stating, “Well, we heard from the horse’s mouth. We heard him say he’s happy to do that. I think it’s really important, the vice president thinks it’s really important, that there be open and frank exchanges between the two candidates where they can engage with each other to talk about the issues that matter to the American people.”
Sams emphasized that the Harris campaign is focused on ensuring that the American public sees an “unfettered” Trump during the debate. “That’s what we’re going to get if he becomes president again,” Sams warned, highlighting the stakes of the upcoming debate.
With the debate scheduled for September 10th, both campaigns are gearing up for what promises to be a critical moment in the race, with each candidate eager to present their case to the American people without any barriers. The Harris campaign, in particular, is looking forward to a robust and direct exchange that will allow voters to see the clear contrasts between the two candidates.