NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said on Sunday that her Republican rival Donald Trump should accept a proposal for a new debate on CNN next month as Election Day on Nov. 5 approaches.
Former President Trump declined to hold another debate with his Democratic opponent on Saturday after Harris’ campaign said they had agreed to an Oct. 23 debate on CNN following their Sept. 10 debate on ABC.
“He should accept the proposal because I believe strongly that we owe it to the American people and the voters to meet one more time before Election Day,” Harris told supporters at a fundraising event in New York City.
“We should have another debate,” she added. “My opponent is looking for a reason to avoid it.”
Trump campaign representatives were not immediately available for comment on Harris’ comments.
Speaking to supporters at a rally in North Carolina on Saturday, Trump said: “The problem with another debate is it’s just too late. The voting has already started.”
Harris acknowledged on Sunday that early voting has begun in some US states, but noted that it is a neck-and-neck race with more than a month to go.
“This race is as close as it can be. This is a race with a margin of error,” she said.
(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Daphne Psaledakis; Writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Chris Reese and Diane Craft)
