US Elections 2020: The United States Commission on Presidential Debates on Friday said it has cancelled the October 15 presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden following the former refused to take part in a virtual format, reported AFP.

Issuing a statement, the CPD said, “The debate, which was scheduled to take place on October 15 in Miami, would not be held. Each (candidate) now has announced alternate plans for that date.”  With the cancellation, the only debate is left, which will be held on October 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.

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On Thursday, the commission had said that it will be holding a virtual debate on October 15 in view of Trump testing positive for the coronavirus. However, the president, who wishes to return to the campaign trail and hold love events, refused to participate in the virtual format, wanting to be part of the town hall debate in person. “I’m not gonna waste my time on a virtual debate,” Trump said. “You sit behind a computer and you do the debate, it is ridiculous, and then they cut you off anytime they want.”

“It could end up as a campaign bonanza for Biden if the debate goes ahead next Thursday and only he turns up for the event, answering questions from an audience made of citizens and not just the media people. That would give him a free play and Trump would be seen as backing out of the debate”, Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien had said, adding that the President will instead hold a rally.

Trump’s campaign on Friday accused the commission, headed by a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, “biased” toward Biden.

“There is no medical reason to stop the October 15 debate in Miami from proceeding as scheduled, since the President will be healthy and ready to debate,” Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said.

The commission said both candidates have agreed to participate in the Oct. 22 debate and would be subject to required coronavirus testing, mask-wearing, and social distancing protocols.

Democratic nominee Biden had said earlier in the week that he would not participate in the debate if Trump had not recovered from the infection. Biden’s campaign attacked Trump for his refusal to join the debate, according to Reuters.

“It’s shameful that Donald Trump ducked the only debate in which the voters get to ask the questions - but it’s no surprise,” Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said.