Donald Trump says ‘too late’ to hold another debate as early voting has started ahead of November 5 election.

Kamala Harris has challenged Donald Trump to a second debate before the United States presidential election, saying she “will gladly accept” to go head-to-head again against the former president.

In a statement on Saturday, Harris’s campaign spokesperson Jen O’Malley said the US vice president had accepted CNN’s invitation to a debate on October 23.

“We look forward to Vice President Harris again having the opportunity in the CNN debate to show her command of the issues and why it’s time to turn the page on Donald Trump and charge a new way forward for America,” O’Malley said.

More than 67 million people tuned in to the first Harris-Trump showdown on September 10, which saw the two candidates trade barbs on immigration, foreign policy, and other issues.

Most observers crowned Harris the winner of that debate, as she repeatedly appeared to rattle Trump over the course of the evening.

I will gladly accept a second presidential debate on October 23.

I hope @realDonaldTrump will join me. https://t.co/Trb8HUBsDh

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 21, 2024

Trump had posted on his Truth Social media platform earlier this month that, “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!”

Trump echoed that at a campaign rally in North Carolina on Saturday, saying it was “too late” to hold another showdown with Harris.

“The problem with another debate is that it’s just too late, voting has already started,” he said, as reported by US news outlets.

While election day is November 5, early voting began this week in some US states.

In 2020, the final presidential debate ahead of the election was on October 22. Four years earlier, when Trump went up against Democrat Hillary Clinton, the third and final presidential debate was on October 19.

CNN has said the proposed October 23 debate would mirror the format of one held in June between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.

Biden’s poor performance in that debate spurred questions about his age and ability to serve another term, and weeks later, he dropped out of the 2024 race.

“Both Vice President Harris and former President Trump received an invitation to participate in a CNN debate this fall as we believe the American people would benefit from a second debate between the two candidates for President of the United States,” CNN said in a statement.

“We look forward to receiving a response from both campaigns so the American public can hear more from these candidates as they make their final decision.”

Close race

Most polls show Trump and Harris locked in a close fight in the run-up to the upcoming vote, particularly in battleground states that will be key to winning the White House.

According to a New York Times polling tracker, Harris on Saturday held a slim lead of 49 percent support nationally compared with Trump’s 47 percent support.

It is not clear whether debates actually have an effect on presidential campaigns, with most experts saying the impact is minimal.

Nevertheless, Elaine Kamarck and William A Galston, election experts at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington, DC, said the September Harris-Trump debate appeared “likely to put new wind in Harris’ sales”.

“Whether it will be enough to propel her to victory in the Electoral College remains to be seen. But her campaign and supporters leave the debate with renewed energy and hope,” they wrote.

“By contrast, the Trump campaign must reckon with the likelihood that their candidate’s performance pleased his base without rallying many new supporters to his side.”