Commentary
Unmuted Debate Mikes? Biggest Unscripted TV Show Coming Your Way
- by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, August 27, 2024
Unmuted microphones for the next Presidential debate? More revealing TV viewing content for the highest public office in the land is coming.
Viewers, and potential voters, will be hoping this will offer up some very familiar TV content -- of the unscripted entertainment variety.
The Kamala Harris Presidential campaign now wants to keep the microphones on -- entirely -- during the upcoming scheduled debate next month on ABC.
This would be a switch from the muted microphones that existed in the now disastrous July debate on CNN between Donald Trump and President Joe Biden -- one that dramatically altered the Presidential race with Biden eventually pulling out amid rapidly sinking polls.
In the previous Presidential debates held in 2020 between Biden and Trump, there were constant disruptions -- especially from Trump -- when Biden was speaking. Presidential debate microphones were on fully during those TV events.
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Now the Harris campaign -- perhaps emboldened by sharply higher polling -- wants to make a dramatic change: Open the mikes.
“Trump should stop hiding behind the mute button,” according to Brian Fallon, Harris' campaign spokesman, in Deadline. “The VP is ready to debate Trump live and uncensored.”
The thinking seems to be that more interruptions could make a candidate look less Presidential. Many analysts believe former President Trump can’t restrain himself.
Trump, who is behind in the polls, is now perceived to be increasingly desperate, and more likely to put forth gaffes, errors, or outright lies -- casting greater doubt on his ability to return to office and prompting him to make more outlandish, reckless comments.
Harris, a veteran prosecutor in the state of California, would have quick responses to the comments that Trump offers.
This will mean a boost in dramatic TV content, as TV viewers and potential voters will see this for all it is worth.
With all of these elements, this Presidential debate is expected be the best unscripted TV show in some time.
And that will have TV viewers wondering: Who will get kicked out of the house?
Wayne Friedman is West Coast Editor of MediaPost. You can reach Wayne at wayne@mediapost.com.
Yep, it sems that the Dems are counting on Trump insultingly interrupting Harris while she talks and, probably, in a very self destructive manner. I wonder if Trump will be foolish enough to fall for this obvious ploy.
I think the focus groups reacted positively to her recent use of "I'm speaking now" retort in a campaign appearance. She also scored points with the same talk-to-the-hand "I'm speaking" against Mike Pence in the October 2020 VP debate.
Like a caged animal backed into a corner he won't be able to help himself.