{"id":2147177,"date":"2024-01-12T00:06:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T05:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-big-question-debate-or-decline\/"},"modified":"2024-01-12T00:13:55","modified_gmt":"2024-01-12T05:13:55","slug":"bidens-big-question-debate-or-decline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-big-question-debate-or-decline\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden&#8217;s dilemma: Debate or abstain"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">10<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbidens-big-question-debate-or-decline%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2147177&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>President Biden&#8217;s Decision: To \u200cDebate \u200cor Not to Debate?<\/h2>\n<p>As fall approaches, \u2063President Joe Biden finds himself \u2062contemplating a crucial \u200dquestion: should he engage in debates or avoid them altogether?\u2062 Throughout history, every major party presidential\u200c nominee has chosen to participate\u200b in debates. However, there are murmurs within \u2063the Democratic \u200dParty suggesting that \u2063Biden should break this tradition, especially if his 2024 Republican opponent happens to be former President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;I \u2062would think\u2064 twice about it,&#8221; cautioned Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). &#8220;In 2016, I watched him do\u200c outrageous\u200d things and\u2064 say\u200b outrageous things.\u200c It\u2019s \u200djust an opportunity for him \u200dto display his extremism.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Team Biden \u2062is undoubtedly \u2062considering the potential consequences of skipping\u2063 debates, taking into account recent\u2063 examples of politicians who have done\u200c so \u200bwithout \u2064suffering any damage. One \u200cnotable parallel is Trump himself, who skipped all GOP primary \u2063debates and actually saw his polling numbers rise as a result. If debating doesn&#8217;t yield\u200b any \u200bbenefits, why bother?<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s a\u200b well-known political adage that incumbents typically avoid debates, as it puts\u200d the \u2063challenger \u200don an\u200d equal footing with the champion in the\u2062 eyes of voters. Biden himself\u200d has refused to debate his few intraparty challengers, \u200cincluding Rep. Dean\u200b Phillips (D-MN), following the pattern set by most presidential incumbents during primary season.<\/p>\n<p>However, Trump is\u2063 a unique case. Despite being ousted from\u200d office in\u2063 2020, he\u200d is now running in an \u2064open primary, \u2063leveraging his status as a former president seeking a nonconsecutive second term. This semi-incumbency has worked to his advantage, with his polling numbers rising from 55% to over 62% \u200dafter several debates without his participation.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, Trump claims \u2064he is willing and eager to face\u200b Biden in debates, even suggesting the possibility of \u2062ten debates instead of the traditional three. Democrats, \u2064on the other hand, have reservations.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Publicly stated concerns include the\u200c fear that \u2062Trump will say or do something erratic during an appearance with Biden, along with cautions against &#8220;platforming&#8221; views that most left-leaning voters view as extreme.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Sen. Chris\u2063 Coons (D-DE) recalls \u2064the 2020 debates, emphasizing that Trump showed no respect for the rules, tradition, or decorum\u2064 expected in presidential debates.\u200d Coons specifically points to\u2062 Trump&#8217;s comments about immigrants poisoning the nation&#8217;s blood as an\u2063 example of the kind of hateful \u200crhetoric \u2064that should\u200b not be allowed on a debate stage.<\/p>\n<p>Both\u200d the Biden \u2062and Trump campaigns have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-three-indictments-trump-is-facing\/\" title=\"Trump is facing three indictments. Here's what you need to know.\">remained\u2063 tight-lipped<\/a> about their candidates&#8217; willingness to participate in debates, leaving the \u200bquestion unanswered.<\/p>\n<p>While\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/neil-patel-the-misinformation-police-are-coming-for-you\/\" title=\"Neil Patel: The Misinformation Police Are Coming for You\">televised presidential debates<\/a> have become a regular fixture since\u200d 1976, they do \u2062not have as long\u2064 of\u200b a history as one might assume.\u2062 The first debates took place \u200din\u2063 1960 between John\u2062 F. Kennedy \u200band Richard Nixon, with reports \u200bsuggesting that those \u2063who listened on the radio believed\u2062 Nixon won, while those who watched on \u200cTV\u2063 favored Kennedy. It wasn&#8217;t until 16 years later that the next general election presidential debate occurred.<\/p>\n<p>Given \u2063the \u2062changes in technology and the political landscape, the three-debate format may face \u200bchallenges\u2064 in 2024 and beyond. However, not everyone sees \u2063this as a negative development.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Refusing to \u200cparticipate in the presidential debates would be one of the few decisions Joe Biden has \u200bmade since 2020 that I would endorse,&#8221; expressed William Voegeli, a senior fellow at the \u2063Claremont Institute. &#8220;America elected presidents without face-to-face debates from 1792 through 1956. The evidence from 1960, \u200band then 1976 through 2020, argues that the debates have done more \u200bharm than good.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Recent precedent suggests \u200bthat Biden may\u2064 follow a similar path. Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) refused to debate her Trump-aligned challenger, former news anchor Kari \u2064Lake, during her 2022 campaign. \u2064Despite facing\u2062 criticism\u200d for her \u200ddecision, Hobbs emerged victorious.<\/p>\n<p>Biden faces similar challenges. Trump,\u2064 a former television star comfortable in front of a camera, poses a \u200dpotential threat. Biden could argue \u200cthat appearing \u2064onstage with Trump\u200b is too dangerous, aligning with his previous arguments about\u200c the danger Trump poses to democracy.<\/p>\n<p>However, there are risks for \u2063Biden.\u2064 Avoiding debates could reinforce the perception that he \u200cis too old and frail to handle the responsibilities of the\u200b presidency. It \u2063could also undermine his image as a\u200d candidate who respects traditions \u200cand norms, in contrast\u200c to the unpredictable Trump.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Oddly\u2062 enough, Biden, who&#8217;s running as the guy who promises to be more like a\u200d normal politician, might look worse for threatening to skip a debate than Trump would,&#8221; remarked Rob Boatright, \u200bdirector of research for \u2064the National \u2064Institute for Civil Discourse. &#8220;Debates are really \u2062one \u200bof the\u200c few things that people expect in a presidential campaign.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>If debates do become obsolete, Boatright suggests that it&#8217;s challenging \u200bto determine\u2064 whether rising partisanship or technological advancements away from television and\u2063 towards the internet played a more significant \u2063role in \u200bthis shift.<\/p>\n<p>Given Trump and Biden&#8217;s status as former and current \u200bpresidents, \u2062respectively, and their\u2063 extensive public exposure, most voters have little to gain from seeing them together onstage. Boatright argues that &#8220;we all\u2063 know Trump, we \u200call \u200dknow Biden,&#8221;\u2063 making debates potentially \u200dless consequential than \u200bin previous years.<\/p>\n<p>The ultimate decision may depend on\u200d the candidates&#8217; standing in the polls during the spring and summer. Currently, \u200cBiden trails \u2063Trump in several swing states,\u200d which traditionally would make him more eager \u200dto\u2062 participate in debates if this trend continues.<\/p>\n<p>However, \u2063Voegeli\u2063 predicts that Biden may\u200b choose not to \u200ddebate \u2064this fall, and \u200cit may not\u200c harm him.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;[Biden&#8217;s] age and forensic\u200d limitations are\u2063 priced \u200cin at this point,&#8221; \u200cVoegeli explained. &#8220;He won in 2020 by running \u2063a basement campaign\u2064 and may be able to win in 2024 by \u200crunning \u200ba\u200b Rose \u200dGarden one. The press \u2062has been protective \u2063of him \u2062and will\u200d likely become even more so as Election Day approaches.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Only time will tell what path President Biden ultimately\u200b chooses.<\/p>\n<p><em>Click here to read more from the Washington\u2063 Examiner.<\/em><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What are the potential criticisms and implications of President Biden choosing to skip the debates?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  E presidency. It could\u2064 also open him up to criticism that he is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kjp-calls-on-peter-doocy-has-a-tantrum-and-moves-on-when-she-hears-his-question\/\" title=\"KJP summons Peter Doocy, throws tantrum, swiftly moves on upon hearing his question.\">avoiding tough questions<\/a> or trying \u2064to\u200d hide something from the\u200b American public.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, debates serve as an important platform for candidates to articulate \u200dtheir policies and vision \u2064for the country. It allows voters to compare candidates side by side and make an informed decision about who they believe\u2063 will best represent their interests. By avoiding debates, Biden could\u200c be denying voters \u2062this crucial opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, there are arguments in\u200d favor of Biden&#8217;s potential decision to skip\u2063 debates. As mentioned earlier, Trump has a history of disregarding rules and engaging in inflammatory rhetoric during debates. Facing off against him in a televised debate could risk legitimizing or amplifying his extreme views. Biden&#8217;s team may also believe that their candidate has already established a\u2064 strong enough record and message that debates won&#8217;t significantly impact the race.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, the media landscape has changed significantly since \u200cthe first televised debates took place. Candidates now \u2062have multiple platforms\u2064 to engage\u2064 with \u2063voters, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-collins-unlikely-to-support-tanden-narrowing-path-for-biden-nominee\/\" title=\"Report: Collins Unlikely To Support Tanden, Narrowing Path For Biden Nominee\">including social media<\/a>, town halls, and interviews. These alternative avenues may provide a more controlled and focused environment for Biden to communicate his message without the potential distractions or confrontations of a live debate.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the decision whether to \u2062debate or not \u200blies in the hands of President Biden and his campaign. They must carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits to their candidate&#8217;s image and the electoral landscape. History and recent examples offer conflicting guidance on the\u2064 matter, \u200dmaking it \u200ca difficult choice.<\/p>\n<p>Whichever path Biden chooses, it will undoubtedly shape \u200cthe dynamics of the 2024 presidential \u200bcampaign and \u200dimpact \u200bthe \u2064expectations for future candidates. The decision will also reflect the \u2062evolving nature of political communication and the changing role of traditional debates in modern\u200b politics.<\/p>\n<p>As the fall approaches and the\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ron-way-go-back-three-times-the-desantis-campaign-shot-itself-in-the-foot\/\" title=\"Ron DeSantis' campaign blunders: Three self-inflicted wounds\">campaign season intensifies<\/a>, \u200call eyes will be\u200d on President Biden and his stance on debates. Will he break tradition and \u200dopt-out, or will\u200d he embrace the long-standing tradition of engaging \u200bin debates? Only time will tell.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Its head and opt out of the traditional presidential debates. As the fall nears, President Joe Biden is contemplating whether or not to engage in these debates, a decision that has been a standard for all major party nominees since 1976. However, some Democrats are suggesting he break this tradition<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2635,"featured_media":2147178,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2147177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2635"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2147177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147177\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2147178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2147177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2147177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2147177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}