# Will Trump refuse to debate the Democratic nominee? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 26, 2020, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529 "2020-02-26T02:31:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/41 "2020-02-27T02:18:03Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > That you are an anti trump voter, and are against having him debate is just incomprehensible. The Bernie camp seemed real pissed Bloomberg was allowed into the debate, which is equally bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/42 "2020-02-27T02:50:07Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > The Bernie camp seemed real pissed Bloomberg was allowed into the debate, which is equally bizarre. Didn’t the DNC change their own rules to let him in, after numerous others were hobbled or on the wrong side of those rules? Is “the Bernie camp” anyone on his campaign at any level? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/43 "2020-02-27T02:54:11Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Didn’t the DNC change their own rules to let him in, after numerous others were hobbled or on the wrong side of those rules? > > Is “the Bernie camp” anyone on his campaign at any level? They had separate rules for each debate. Yes, they probably thought the rules currently shouldn’t exclude a guy tied for third place in the polls. Do you think they should have left out Bloomberg? Like that would have been so “fair” that it was worth excluding a contender? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/44 "2020-02-27T03:05:18Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > They had separate rules for each debate. Yes, they probably thought the rules currently shouldn’t exclude a guy tied for third place in the polls. Do you think they should have left out Bloomberg? Like that would have been so “fair” that it was worth excluding a contender? Is it fair to those who dropped out fo the race, because they didn’t have a billion dollars and weren’t buying their way in? You didn’t say what “bernie camp” means. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/45 "2020-02-27T03:14:29Z")
> [@Unreconstructed\_Man](#): > > [lol. Got the guts to apologize?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21997549&postcount=5) Why? Did you infer I was accusing you of supporting him? I wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/46 "2020-02-27T03:16:16Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Is it fair to those who dropped out fo the race, because they didn’t have a billion dollars and weren’t buying their way in? > > You didn’t say what “bernie camp” means. I meant loyal Bernie voters. Remember, this started with you being shocked that a “an anti trump voter” wouldn’t want Trump in the debate? And I don’t give a frap if it’s fair to the drop outs. We are talking about whether a Dem primary debate should exclude the guy tied for third spot. You seem to have forgotten to answer that. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/47 "2020-02-27T03:57:19Z")
I thought for months he would avoid a debate. Now I suspect it will depend on the circumstances. If he’s a good deal behind in the polls, a debate might be hail mary for him. If there is a debate I hope it’s well controlled. No strolling around his opponent while that person is speaking, for example. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/48 "2020-02-27T13:04:44Z")
> [@tullsterx](#): > > He’ll definitely debate. You’ll see. I can’t believe how delusional you guys are. I guess I should be used to it. But my friends get a real laugh out of it when I tell them about threads like this. Who laughs hardest? G.I. Joe, Kermit the Frog, or the broken Furby you never got around to naming? ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/49 "2020-02-27T13:07:18Z")
I think the better question is will the Democratic nominee want to debate Trump? After the last election, I just don’t see any advantage to a Democrat in giving him the platform. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/50 "2020-02-27T14:24:45Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Who laughs hardest? G.I. Joe, Kermit the Frog, or the broken Furby you never got around to naming? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/51 "2020-02-27T15:21:38Z")
Yesterday, John Dean tweeted > [@](#): > > FYI: LBJ refused to debate Goldwater in ‘64. Nixon refused to debate McGovern in ‘72. Incumbent POTUSs don’t have to debate challengers. I will be amazed if Trump debates. He will lose, so he can’t risk it. I mention this because everyone seems to think it will happen. I doubt it ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/52 "2020-02-27T18:55:38Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I meant loyal Bernie voters. Remember, this started with you being shocked that a “an anti trump voter” wouldn’t want Trump in the debate? > > And I don’t give a frap if it’s fair to the drop outs. We are talking about whether a Dem primary debate should exclude the guy tied for third spot. You seem to have forgotten to answer that. How did you define and assemble the data about “loyal Bernie voters”? And what does any of this have to do with my statement? I can’t be shocked? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/53 "2020-02-27T18:59:57Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > I thought for months he would avoid a debate. Now I suspect it will depend on the circumstances. If he’s a good deal behind in the polls, a debate might be hail mary for him. > > If there is a debate I hope it’s well controlled. No strolling around his opponent while that person is speaking, for example. How many of us who are not running just want to be on there and have twitler start stalking us on stage. I think collectively we have thought about this a lot. it might be a good opening to get right up 1 inch from his grill and give him a jolt. That would be the best reality tv ever. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/54 "2020-02-27T19:07:17Z")
He has such a huge ego no way would he be worried he would lose a debate. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/55 "2020-02-27T19:11:35Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > He has such a huge ego no way would he be worried he would lose a debate. I think there’s a tendency for people to think, just because they know he’s not as great as he says he is, that they have Trump all figured out. But I don’t think people really see through his narcissism and I think they still fall under the spell. Just because he _blames_ everybody but himself all the time and talks like he thinks he’s perfect doesn’t mean he isn’t worried about stuff like that. This is a guy who is constantly making excuses, constantly begging for validation, and constantly obsessing over vain and petty stuff. He worries. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/56 "2020-02-27T19:16:03Z")
There is a new book coming out that said he worried that the SS agents assigned to him were not “tough enough” and he was worried if any of them voted for Clinton. Law enforcement people tend to be conservative so I would guess most or all SS agents voted for him. It’s possible he may only do 1 debate. Or if he agrees to more than 1 and it goes badly he won’t do the rest. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529/57 "2020-02-27T19:44:05Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > How did you define and assemble the data about “loyal Bernie voters”? > > And what does any of this have to do with my statement? I can’t be shocked? Won’t answer the question? Ok. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-refuse-to-debate-the-democratic-nominee/848529.md?page=2)