In an interview on Fox and Friends, President Trump argued this morning that his first debate with Biden should be moved up to before ballots are sent out and voting begins:
FOX NEWS – President Trump on Wednesday morning called for the first presidential debate to be moved up, citing increased mail-in and early voting that will see many ballots cast in the presidential election before the first debate is held.
“The one problem I have, the debate’s very late. It’s at the end of September and a lot of ballots will already be cast by that time,” Trump said in a “Fox & Friends” interview. The first presidential debate is scheduled for Sept. 29 in Cleveland.
Trump added: “Why are they putting the first debate so late? The first debate should be before the first – at least before the first ballots go out. And they have it a month later, almost a month later. It’s ridiculous.”
In the swing state of Michigan, for example, absentee ballots can be cast 45 days before the election. In Virginia, in-person early voting starts that early. And in Minnesota, in-person early voting starts on Sept. 18.
The hosts of the morning program then asked the president whether he would like more debates against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. He replied that what he cares more about is that at least one be made earlier.
“I wouldn’t mind more,” Trump said, “what’s more important to me is the first debate be moved up so that when people are putting in their first ballot they’re gonna know.”
I think it’s a good idea for Trump to argue for this, but I worry that it will be the excuse that Team Biden needs to say they aren’t debating Trump.
On the issue of mail-in ballots, Trump warned that the results of the presidential election could be delayed for months:
“It could be for months and months,” Trump said about how long it may take for votes to be counted. “It could be for years.”
The president pointed to a congressional primary election in New York that has resulted in weeks of vote counting after voters mailed in their ballots.
It’s really amazing how many Democrats want to disenfranchise voters with ballots being lost in the mail and worse, when they’ve always cast themselves on the side of the voter.
You can watch Trump’s full interview from Fox and Friends below: