Joe Biden Agrees to Debate Donald Trump: 'I'm Happy to Debate Him'
Joe Biden has announced that he is willing to debate Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election.
This is the first clear commitment from Biden on the issue, as he had previously stated that it would depend on Trump's behavior.
Biden made the announcement during an interview on Howard Stern's radio show, but did not specify a date for the debate.
Trump, who previously refused to debate before the Republican primary, is now calling for a one-on-one debate with Biden.
His campaign advisers have requested an accelerated debates timetable from the Commission on Presidential Debates, suggesting more than the usual three debates.
Dozens of leading US news organizations have also urged the candidates to commit to debating each other, with the debates being sponsored by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates as in past elections.
Biden's team is worried that Trump may not follow debate rules during the presidential debates.
Some advisers prefer not to give Trump the platform.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Biden leading Trump among registered voters with 41% to 37%.
Biden expressed indifference to Trump's debate challenge, stating "If I were him, I would want to debate me too.