fbpx
Breakdown of active cases of COVID-19 by community
September 29, 2020
Georgia Supreme Court dismisses wrongful death civil suit for teen who drowned in Belize
September 29, 2020

First 2020 U.S. presidential debate happening tonight 

Posted: Tuesday, September 29, 2020. 9:37 am CST.

By Aaron Humes: After months of sniping attacks on each other as they battle in a close race for the right to be President of the United States, the leading candidates of the Democratic Party, Joe Biden; and the Republican Party, incumbent Donald Trump, meet face-to-face this evening in the first of three scheduled debates in Cleveland, Ohio. 

The Economist in previewing the debate said, “Modern presidential races are remarkably steady affairs. Once one candidate establishes a lead, the other finds it hard to reduce it by much, especially once autumn starts. This year, extraordinary events have left their mark on the contest: the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the spring and protests for racial justice in the summer. The main parties’ poll numbers also shifted a little after their online conventions. But since Labour Day support for neither President Donald Trump nor Joe Biden has budged by more than a percentage point from the average: 54% of the two-party vote for the Democratic challenger and 46% for the Republican incumbent.” 

It also points to the recent revelations by the New York Times of the president’s tax payments – only US$750 in federal income taxes in 2017, the year he moved into the White House, and in several years paid nothing at all. The Times also says Mr. Trump or his various holding companies owe hundreds of millions of dollars in debts for various properties, including a US$100m mortgage on the commercial space in Trump Tower in New York. 

But National Public Radio (NPR) says that is not on the list of discussion topics for moderator and FOX News anchor Chris Wallace tonight. That list includes: Trump’s and Biden’s records; the Supreme Court; COVID-19; the economy; race and violence in U.S. cities; and the integrity of the election. 

The debate topics are not without controversy. Three dozen Democratic senators signed a letter calling for the debates to also focus on the climate crisis, and critics objected to the framing of the fifth topic, saying it conflates the issues of race and violence. The sixth topic comes as Trump has not committed to a peaceful transfer of power. 

The debate will consist of six segments to address the topics above, with each segment getting approximately 15 minutes. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to the opening question in each segment. Candidates will get a chance to respond to each other as well. 

The pair will meet again on October 15 and 22 ahead of the November 3 election, while their running mates, California Senator Kamala Harris and Vice-President Mike Pence, will debate on October 7. 

The election is of 538 electors in 50 states to cast votes in the Electoral College which meets in December. The winner must have at least 270 votes to be inaugurated on January 20 for a four-year term. 

 

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-601-0315.

 

© 2020, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.

Comments

  • Galen University
  • Belmopan Aggregates
  • larry waight
  • Belmopan Aggregates
  • cahal pech village resort
  • Galen University
  • Shindaiwa
  • Belmopan Aggregates