Second Presidential Debate cancelled

October 9, 2020 6:39 pm

Trump Biden 3 — President Donald Trump listens to Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden during the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool)

WASHINGTON (WLNE)- The second presidential debate between Joe Biden and President Donald Trump has been called off, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced Friday.

The announcement follows an previous statement in which the non-partisan commission said the debate, planned for October 15 in Miami, would be held virtually.

“[T]he campaigns of the two candidates who qualified for participation in the debate made a series of statements concerning their respective positions regarding their willingness to participate in a virtual debate on October 15, and each now has announced alternate plans for that date,” the “It is now apparent there will be no debate on October 15, and the CPD will turn its attention to preparations for the final presidential debate scheduled for October 22,” the statement said.

That debate is scheduled for October 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Trump campaign and the president himself, had both issued statements saying they wouldn’t participate in a virtual event.

The Biden campaign said it had looked forward to the debate in Miami, and tossed blame at the Trump campaign.

“It’s shameful that Donald Trump ducked the only debate in which the voters get to ask the questions — but it’s no surprise.” Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said. “Everyone knows that Donald Trump likes to bully reporters, but obviously he doesn’t have the guts to answer for his record to voters at the same time as Vice President Biden.”