Harris accepts CBS News vice presidential debate invitation

The Biden campaign has accepted CBS News’ invitation to participate in a vice presidential debate this summer, the campaign says.

The Biden campaign says the proposed dates of Tuesday, July 23 or Tuesday, August 13 would be acceptable for Vice President Kamala Harris to debate. The Trump campaign has not yet publicly accepted the invitation. And former President Donald Trump has yet to name a running mate.

“We look forward to the Trump campaign agreeing to one of these dates so that this campaign’s full debate schedule can be set,” Brian Fallon, communications director for the Harris campaign, told reporters.

CBS News has confirmed that President Biden’s campaign accepted his offer to host a vice presidential debate and extended the same offer to Trump’s campaign.

Mr. Biden and Trump agreed in the presidential debates of June 27 and September 3. Plans for the debates were quickly put into place after the campaign chairman said in a letter that he was willing to debate his Republican opponent twice before the November election. That kicked off a series of competing proposals and social media posts from the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees, culminating with the two debates scheduled for June and September within hours.

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, a potential choice of running mate for Trump, hinted at possibly participating in a debate during an interview Wednesday evening.

“I heard there’s going to be a debate in July. If you’re the moderator, maybe I’ll talk to you. We’ll see what happens,” Scott told Newsmax.

Democratic strategists have argued that an earlier start date for the debates would help the Biden campaign draw out the contrasts between the president and Trump in front of a broader audience and that it could offset some of Biden’s disadvantages in the polls.

“It’s important to start attacking (Trump) one-on-one as soon as possible. We have every advantage, so the sooner the better,” said Quentin James, president of the Collective PAC, a committee of support for black candidates who supported Mr. Biden. .

Melissa Quinn contributed to this report