During the two commercial breaks, the campaign team will not be able to interact with the candidate.
Washington:
The first US presidential debate between incumbent Joe Biden and Republican rival Donald Trump on June 27 will include two commercial breaks, no props and microphones muted except when recognized to speak, CNN said on Saturday.
In May, the candidates agreed to face off in two debates, including one this month that will be moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash in Atlanta, while the other on September 10 will be hosted by ABC.
CNN said Saturday that both candidates will appear at a uniform podium during the 90-minute debate, podium positions will be determined by lottery, and candidates will be given a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water, but will not be able to use accessories.
“Microphones will be muted throughout the debate, except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak,” CNN said.
CNN, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery, said moderators “will use every tool at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civil discussion.”
During the two commercial breaks, the campaign team will not be able to interact with the candidate and there will be no studio audience.
CNN said candidates eligible to participate must appear on enough state ballots to meet the 270 electoral vote threshold needed to win and receive at least 15% in four separate national polls.
CNN said it is “not impossible” that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running as an independent, could qualify, saying he has received at least 15% in three qualifying polls to date and has qualified for the ballot in six states, making him eligible for 89 electoral college votes.
The debates, which will draw a live US television audience in the tens of millions, are fraught with risks for both candidates, who face a tight race.
Biden has three preferred debate topics, according to a campaign memo seen by Reuters: abortion rights, the state of democracy and the economy.
Trump refused to debate his rivals during the race for the Republican nomination. His team named immigration, public safety and inflation as key issues ahead of the debate.
(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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