“Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020, and since then, he hasn’t shown up for a debate,” declares President Joe Biden in a 14-second video that features five cuts. “Now, he’s acting like he wants to debate me again.”
Indeed, Mr. President, that is how presidential campaigns have worked since 1976.
“Make my day, pal,” the 81-year-old Biden declares in his best tough-guy growl. “I’ll even do it twice.”
(For several decades, three presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate was the norm, and three debates were scheduled last cycle, but one was canceled because of Trump came down with Covid. The Commission on Presidential Debates scheduled three presidential debates for this year, but apparently Biden is rejecting their schedule.)
“So let’s pick the dates, Donald. I hear you’re free on Wednesdays.” (Trump is required to appear in court Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.)
It is good to see Biden publicly agreeing to debates, and not going along with the emerging argument among Democrats and Trump critics that Biden should not elevate Trump by appearing on the same stage as him. But it is hard to shake the feeling that representatives of Biden, or Trump, will get caught up in negotiating the details, and attempt to make it look like the other is refusing to debate because the other man is scared.