Your understanding is great.
That’s my thought too. If Trump cancels at the last minute, then turn it into an interview. The moderators are Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, both experienced interviewers, so they would have no problem.
Or turn it into a town hall. No audience is scheduled, and I doubt one could be assembled quickly on very short notice, but viewers could ask their questions on the telephone or by text.
Either way, Trump would be missing out on ratings, and he would hate that.
Yep. He wont actually refuse, per se.
But trumps ego id HUGE, so I dunno.
"Ah, C’mon, Jack! Quit foolin’ around. I’d never do something like that. That’s Dirty Pool, Mister! "
Ah, the rare Freudian Freudian slip!
snort. 
If they debate, and they shake hands at the start, Joe should immediately produce a bottle of hand sanitizer. It would be sweet if they were asked about who inspired them growing up. Joe touchingly recounts a few, then looks at trump and says, “you had Fred Trump and Roy Cohn. How’d that work out for you?”
Attacking his opponent’s family is too low-class for Biden. That’s Comvict Donald’s stock in trade.
Wait a minute here, folks. I just watched most of Biden’s meeting with Zelenskyy in Paris and was taken aback. Biden seemed old, stiff, spoke softly and haltingly at times. If that’s how he is at a debate, contrasted with Trump’s loud, aggressive style, it will not go well for Biden no matter how good he is in terms of thoughtfulness and coherence.
Seriously, I think Biden on the whole is doing a good job and deserves reelection even aside from the horror of a Trump second term. But the physical contrast would not be good.
ETA: I like @Spoons’ idea of an interview if Trump bails at the last minute.
Wow—you are right! I clicked on your link, and Biden does not look good. He looks weak, sounds weak, and he totally fails to inspire, to make me feel like he is a leader I can count on.
And this is in an easy setting: a press conference which is totally under his control. He has all his remarks prepared in advance, nothing but good news to pass on to Zelensky. Any politician should be able to carry this off with an air of confidence and optimism.
But instead, I found myself feeling lost, wondering what this leader is doing. Will Biden’s next sentence tell me good news or bad news? Should I feel happy or sad? There wasn’t a single moment where I wanted to clap, to say out loud “Yeah! that’s the right policy!”
I agree with everything Biden said, but watching him say it, I had a feeling that he would faint before he finished speaking.
For example: the simple line (at 2:25) when he said to Zelensky “I assure you, the United States is standing with you”. That’s a declaration, a line which a good public speaker would deliver with an upbeat, optimistic and confident tone. But Biden whispers it softly, and leaves me as the audience feeling zero sense of confidence that Biden is committed to it, or is capable of forcing his hesitant Congress to carry it out..
Reading the text of his remarks, the content sounds great. But after watching Biden in real time, I think his delivery and tone will not win him new supporters. And it may well scare off some of his current supporters.
I don’t know… I’m in the “Biden is a bit too old camp,” but since the alternative is Trump, there is no way I would change my vote, or not vote. It’s not the current supporters I worry about, but those fools who for some reason are still considering Trump, who vote by emotion rather than reason.
It’s key whether they will agree to a rule where they will cut off mics after “time.” Biden will do better if they do. Turnp ran roughshod over the previous debate rules. Love to see his face when he realizes he cant be heard.
Biden is indeed old and getting frail. But the alternative isn’t someone young and vibrant; it’s Trump, who is nearly as old, in far worse shape mentally and physically, and moral bankrupt in every way.
So I’m voting for Grandpa Joe. He’s the best choice of the choices available.
They’ve already agreed.
Do you mean to say that Trump has given his word? Or perhaps even signed a contract?
Well, that’s good. We all know Trump has never gone back on his word or ignored his legal obligations.
I offer no assurances regarding Trump’s credibility.
He sounds fine to me in that clip.
I expect he will be on it and perfectly energetic in any debate with DJT, if such a thing actually occurs.
(Edited post as it is probably off topic)
I just watched him speak at Normandy. Seemed okay. Old, sure. But Presidential.
And he didn’t once infer that our veterans were suckers or losers.
Glad to learn that, and I hope my worries are unfounded. But I won’t let go of worry till after the election (assuming Biden wins).
Did you watch the State of the Union?