ABC News ascends into the limelight, preparing for the significant Trump-Harris debate with substantial implications.
Moderators David Muir and Linda Davis will have a distinctive perspective in front of them compared to when ABC News initially secured the high-stakes presidential debate back in May. Since then, Harris has become the Democratic nominee, disrupting not only the presidential race for the White House but also the negotiation process ahead of the televised confrontation.
This debate is a significant challenge for the Disney-owned network, as it's the only scheduled face-off between Harris and Trump in the 2024 race, and it could be a make-or-break moment for either campaign. Every aspect of the debate, from the moderators' questions to the lighting, will be under close scrutiny by the candidates and the public during the 90-minute clash.
In the weeks leading up to Tuesday night's debate, there's been a backstage drama at ABC News as network executives attempted to set the ground rules and format for this encounter.
ABC initially planned to follow the rules used by CNN in its presidential debate in June between President Joe Biden and Trump, avoiding a live audience and muting the candidates' microphones while their opponent is speaking - a rule proposed by Biden's team before the CNN debate.
However, Harris' team insisted on keeping the microphones active throughout the night and pushed for ABC to change the rule. Some of Harris' most memorable moments in previous debates and Senate hearings have come during cross-talk. According to sources, Harris' team believed that muting the microphones would make Trump appear more disciplined, and they were frustrated with ABC's unwillingness to alter the rule.
This situation presented a predicament for ABC. While Democrats had elected a new candidate since agreeing to host the debate, Republicans had not. Trump's campaign had already accepted the proposed debate rules from ABC News' general counsel. The microphone issue remained the final point of contention, even as ABC began setting up its physical presence at the National Constitution Center.
Eventually, the Harris campaign conceded, writing in a letter to ABC that they understood Trump might skip the debate if the preferred format wasn't followed.
ABC seemed to leave room for reconsidering muting the microphones under certain circumstances, according to a source familiar with the debate negotiations. ABC offered assurances to the Harris campaign that if there was considerable cross-talk between the two candidates, the network might decide to unmute both microphones to let viewers at home hear the exchange. The moderators would discourage interruptions and explain what was being said to the audience, the source added.
ABC, however, refuted the idea that the microphones would be unmuted, stating last week: "Beyond the debate rules published today, which were mutually agreed upon by two campaigns on May 15th, we have made no other agreements. We look forward to moderating the presidential debate next Tuesday."
However, there will be another chance for the public to comprehend any muted conversations during the broadcast. Unlike at the CNN debate, a group of reporters who cover the candidates for major news organizations will be present in the debate studio, able to hear and report on both sides' comments, the source noted. ABC declined to comment.
Significant moment amid management shakeup
Presidential debates are major events for networks that broadcast them. They represent substantial investments, attract huge ratings, and often rank among a network's most watched events in history.
For ABC News, this debate arrives at a crucial point. Last month, parent company Disney tapped Almin Karamehmedovic, the top producer of "World News Tonight," as the network's next president. His appointment follows former president Kim Godwin's abrupt resignation in May, marking the end of a tumultuous three-year tenure at ABC News during which staff stated that her divisive leadership led to a decline in employee morale. This successful debate and high ratings could give a much-needed morale boost to the staff.
ABC will face close scrutiny from Trump and his allies in the days leading up to the debate. Trump has criticized the network, calling its impartiality into question. Despite his fierce attacks on the media, labeling journalists as the "enemy of the people," Trump has had particular issues with ABC.
"ABC is the worst network when it comes to fairness," Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity last week. "They're quite nasty, and I think a lot of people will be watching to see how nasty and how unfair they are."
Trump has also suggested that Dana Walden, the Disney Entertainment co-chair who technically oversees ABC News and has been friends with Harris for years, would somehow give Harris advance notice of the questions. The network has denied this, stating that Walden has no editorial control over ABC News.
Trump is also suing George Stephanopoulos over the ABC News anchor's assertion that a jury concluded Trump had "raped" E. Jean Carroll. (A Manhattan federal jury last year found that Trump sexually abused Carroll and held him liable for battery).
Last month, Trump clashed with ABC senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott during an interview at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, criticizing her for her incisive questions regarding his past statements on race. Unlike some of his ABC News colleagues, Trump has not targeted Muir or Davis - the latter of whom has never interviewed Trump.
Experienced individuals Muir and Davis are set to moderate their first presidential debate between Democratic and Republican contestants, despite their extensive background in primary debates. Muir, renowned as the top-rated evening news network anchor, has interacted with Trump previously, securing the first post-inauguration interview with the former president. Meanwhile, Davis, known for her role in ABC's nightly streaming news broadcast and the Sunday newscast, is not as widely recognized.
Despite their backgrounds, Tuesday's performance will inevitably draw focus and criticism, including the issue of whether or not to fact-check the candidates in real time during the debate.
As ABC News' political director Rick Klein stated to The New York Times, "I don’t think it’s a 'yes' or 'no' proposition." ABC News isn't committing to fact-checking every claim or ignoring fact-checking entirely. Instead, their role is to maintain a constructive conversation and promote a good, orderly debate, which involves asking insightful questions, guiding the discussion along, and ensuring civility.
Contributions from CNN's MJ Lee and Kristen Holmes
This debate is a significant business opportunity for ABC News, as it could attract high ratings and boost their morale amidst recent management changes. However, the business decision to allow unmuted microphones during the debate has become a contentious issue, with both candidates expressing their preferences.
