Will there be a second Trump vs Harris debate in October?

Former President of the United States Donald Trump and current Vice-President Kamala Harris went head-to-head in a televised debate on September 10, with the Democratic candidate for the 2024 presidential election keen for round two in October.

Harris has accepted an invitation from CNN for a second meeting with Trump, who is being encouraged by fellow Republicans to face his rival for a second time.

Many viewers believed the 78-year-old came off second best in the ABC debate in Philadelphia a little over two weeks ago, in which Harris came out swinging. The Californian put Trump on the back foot by criticising his conduct during the Capitol riot, questioning the size of his rally crowds and bringing up former members of his administration who had since been critical of him.

Second Trump vs Harris debate “too late”

Perhaps sensing she had managed to build some kind of momentum, Harris almost immediately agreed to another debate before the November 5 election.

Trump, however, has yet to agree to a re-match, which CNN has offered to host on Wednesday, October 23. On Saturday, the former president attended a campaign in North Carolina and played down the idea, saying: “It’s too late to do another. I’d love to, in many ways, but it’s too late. The voting is cast”.

What do polls say about the 2024 presidential election?

The ball, then, is very much in Trump’s court.

Despite claims Harris had marginally got the better of the first televised debate, polls suggest the presidential race will go down to the wire, with very little to separate the two candidates it stands.

According to a CNN poll carried out by SSRS last week, 48% of nationwide voters favour Harris, with 47% backing Trump. Could a second televised debate prove to be decisive? We may not find out.