Following a public outcry, ABC News reversed its decision to deny The Daily Signal access to cover Tuesday’s presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia.
The event, which will take place at the National Constitution Center, is the only scheduled debate between Trump and Harris for the 2024 presidential election. ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the 90-minute debate, set for 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Reporters from other media outlets are normally allowed to attend such newsworthy events (as I’ve done in the past), including a post-debate spin room. Unlike previous years, however, the Commission on Presidential Debates isn’t involved in the planning, leaving such decisions up to the corporate media behemoths instead.
In the case of Tuesday’s debate, ABC News worked with both campaigns to establish the rules. It also offered interested media outlets an opportunity to apply for press credentials.
In a tersely worded email sent at 12:40 a.m. Friday, ABC News cited a lack of space at the 160,000-square-foot National Constitution Center as the reason for denying The Daily Signal’s request:
Thank you for your interest in the ABC News’ Presidential Debate in Philadelphia, PA. Unfortunately, ABC News will not be able to offer you a media credential as space is extremely limited.
Following its decision Friday, several journalists and commentators expressed outrage at ABC News’ exclusion of The Daily Signal.
At 6:20 p.m. Friday, ABC News emailed The Daily Signal with a reversal from its earlier decision.
Thank you for your interest in the ABC News’ Presidential Debate in Philadelphia, PA. Due to significant demand, we have limited space for credentials. Thank you for your patience. ABC News has approved your media credential application. …
ABC News won’t allow a live audience at the National Constitution Center, taking a cue from CNN’s debate between Trump and President Joe Biden.
Before the June debate, the White House Correspondents’ Association objected to CNN’s prohibition on a pool reporter in the studio to observe Trump and Biden. In a June 27 statement, the association wrote:
WHCA is deeply concerned that CNN has rejected our repeated requests to include the White House travel pool inside the studio. Through conversations and advocacy, we urged CNN to grant access to at least one print pool reporter for the duration of the debate. WHCA has been informed that one print reporter will be permitted to enter the studio during a commercial break to briefly observe the setting. That is not sufficient in our view and diminishes a core principle of presidential coverage. The White House pool has a duty to document, report, and witness the president’s events and his movements on behalf of the American people.
The ABC News debate will mark one of the rare moments when Harris faces questions from journalists. Her only previous interview—the first since Biden dropped out of the race—came last week on CNN.