That’s cool if you believe the Democratic nominee should shake his hand. I can see valid arguments for that position. But I don’t see how you can just dismiss the question as though it’s an absurd one. Is there anything Trump can say that would change your mind about this? Let’s say we get to the debate (we’ll say against Biden) and Trump has not only made fun of Jill Biden’s looks, but has openly speculated that Joe Biden purposely arranged to have his first wife and one of his kids killed to be able to later get sympathy votes in a presidential campaign. Or maybe he’ll claim that Joe Biden‘s dad was actually the assassin who killed MLK. Should Joe walk up and shake such a person’s hand?
Did Roosevelt shake hands with Hitler?
Did Lincoln shake hands with Davis?
No, they demanded unconditional surrender. That’s what you do when faced with an enemy committed to the destruction of your country’s government and the enslavement of its people.
If it’s Warren, she should give him an Indian burn. 
I can see it now: Warren will go on stage, Trump will extend his hand in greeting, and she will refuse to shake, standing stiffly at attention: “The only acceptable act on your part is total and unconditional surrender!”
Moderators: “All right, shall we proceed? First question of the night…”
What a silly post. People on different sides said the same thing in regards to cancelling elections about Presidents Obama, Bush, et. al.
Shake his hand then immediately look down at it in amused amazement while mouthing the words: “Wow! It’s really, really small!!”
Or, if the Dem nominee is feeling magnanimous, a fist-bump. I hate T-rump with the fire of 1,000 Zippos but even I would have to smile if Trumpy and Biden/Warren/Whoever fist-bumped before a debate.
Did you miss the part where he pointed out that it was Donald Trump saying these things?
Sure, other people said that Bill Clinton, George Bush, or Barack Obama would try to remain in office past eight years. But none of those men ever said it.
The shaking hands thing is tricky. If the Democratic nominee doesn’t do it he looks petty, which will cost him votes with moderates. If he does do it our screechy hyper annoying progressive base will throw a shit fit that’ll make the rest of us look like idiots, be picked up and amplified for the best part of a week on FOX and social media, and * also* cost us votes with moderates.
Best thing to do, I think, is shake his hand but yank it aggressively like he does in a way which says “Yeah, I’m shaking your hand, but I still hate your fucking guts”.
How about this? They shake politely, and then when Trump turns away, they take some wipes out and calmly clean their hand.
A small bottle of sanitizer would also be good.
If the Democratic nominee does shake hands, s/he will piss off people who absolutely will vote for them anyway. If s/he does not, they will piss off people who might vote for them, or might vote for the other guy.
Pretty simple cost/benefit analysis. Shake his hand.
That sounds all right, but I would give half of what I own to see the Democratic candidate instead perform a Haka at the start of the debate.
How about spitting on your hand, then stick it out to shake? Let Trump refuse to shake.
Shake his hand, but wear a latex glove. Then after you shake his hand, peel off the glove and throw it away with a look of disgust.
I was going to propose Namaskar, but I love the idea of a Haka.
The pistoning arms, stamping feet, and rhythmic shouting would frighten the pussy ass bitch into terrified retreat, bone spurs and all.
I think half of the responses in this thread are really over-analyzing a molehill into a mountain. Do people really think the handshake will become an issue like that? It’s something that people wouldn’t even notice or think about unless someone hyped up a big deal about it. 99% of the post-debate focus is going to be on things that Trump and the Democratic candidate said during the debate, not about some handshake that takes all of 1 second.
In fact, this sounds almost like some sabotage job that 4chan would try to do: Deliberately hype up “The Handshake Issue” among Democrats until it takes on monumental meaning, thus paralyzing the candidate with indecision over what would, 99% of the time, be an utterly insignificant and unnoticeable thing.
This is my opinion. The nominee is interviewing for the job of POTUS. It’s a job requiring a great deal of self-disciplined diplomacy, especially in the wake of the current administration. We need someone who can demonstrate the ability to show deep grace in the face of any number of repulsive situations. The incumbent will suffer humiliations earned by the current President, meant to test whether the voters have found their ground and hired a better person.
Debates are the best place to show us they can handle it.
Trump plays dominance games through his handshakes. Anyone shaking hands with him should prepare in advance. Donald Trump's strange handshake style and how Justin Trudeau beat it – video | US news | The Guardian
First, the Democratic candidate has to watch out for Trump’s twist and pull handshaking method.
Then he/she should shake hands but then when he/she pulls the hand away, sniff it tentatively, make a slightly disgusted face like it now smells, then wipe it off with a kerchief.
Or just give Trump the stink palm.
OK, how’s this? Trump sticks out his hand, and the Democrat produces a pair of handcuffs.
It’s the little things that can turn an election. Al Gore lost major points during the Bush debates with his eye rolling and condescending sighs. While any one thing by itself may not be enough to lose the election, it all adds up.