there are conflicting signals tonight
about the likelihood of a second
presidential debate
between president trump and his
democratic challenger joe biden
the plan was to hold a virtual debate
because of mr trump's
recent treatment for kovit but the
president said that that would be a
waste of his time
last night saw the only face-to-face
debate between the vice presidential
candidates mike pence and kamala harris
as our north america editor john soper
reports
never before has a vp debate been so
important
and there's a reason for that with both
presidential candidates well into their
seventies
the old phrase about the number two
being only a heartbeat away from the
oval office
has never seemed more relevant in the
debate between mike pence
and kamala harris kovid was center stage
although divided by plexiglas
the american people have witnessed what
is
the greatest failure of any presidential
administration in the history of our
country
but i want the american people to know
that from the very
first day president donald trump has put
the health of america first
whatever the vice president is claiming
the administration has done
clearly it hasn't worked but when you
say what the american people have done
over these last eight months hasn't
worked that's a great disservice
to the sacrifices the american people
have made this debate had none of the
histrionics and shouting of last week
in what felt like a nil draw to be
honest the most exciting bit came
when a very black fly landed in mike
pence's very white hair
and stayed there president trump and i
stand
with you it ended with this trailer head
the second presidential
debate is next week on october 15th a
town hall style debate in miami but this
morning the independent commission that
runs the presidential debates
ruled that next week's encounter should
be virtual
the president's reaction the furious i'm
out
no i'm not going to waste my time on a
virtual debate that's not what debating
is all about you sit behind a computer
and do a debate it's ridiculous
and then they cut you off whenever they
want joe biden who's agreed to a virtual
debate
was today throwing up his hands we don't
know what the president's going to do
change his mind every second so for me
to comment on that now would be
irresponsible
i think that if i'm going to follow the
commission recommendation
if he goes off and he's going to have a
rally i'll i'll
i don't know what i'll do the strategy
of the president pre-illness
had been to change the subject away from
the pandemic
now he seems to be embracing it as a
gift
i think this was a blessing from god
that i caught it this was a blessing in
disguise
but for all that he's still confined to
quarters while joe biden is out
campaigning
something that will add to the
president's growing frustration
it's understandable that the president
would much prefer to have an in-person
debate but arguably he's cutting off his
nose to spite his face
all the polls suggest that donald trump
is way behind joe biden and needs the
debates
as a way of resetting uh the race now a
final debate is scheduled for the 22nd
of october in nashville
frankly i think there must be a question
mark over whether that will happen
as well one other thing that's
significant that has happened today
the senate majority leader a republican
normally slavishly loyal to donald trump
has come out with absolute withering
criticism
of the white house's handling and has
said
that the president more or less has got
what he deserves by the laxness
over mark wearing and keeping social
distancing
maybe we're seeing the first cracks in
republican unity
hugh john many thanks again john sobel
with the latest thoughts there for us
in washington