US presidential election 2024: Kamala Harris calls on Donald Trump to accept offer for another presidential debate

US Vice President Kamala Harris said on Sunday that her Republican rival Donald Trump should accept the proposal for a new debate on CNN next month as Election Day on November 5 approaches.

Former President Trump on Saturday declined to hold another debate with his Democratic opponent after Harris’ campaign said she had agreed to a face-off on CNN on Oct. 23 after they debated on ABC on Sept. 10.

“He should accept the offer because I firmly believe that we owe it to the American people and the voters to come together again before Election Day,” Harris told her supporters at a fundraiser in New York City.

“We should have another debate,” she added. “My opponent is looking for a reason to avoid it.”

Representatives of Trump’s campaign team were not immediately available for reaction to Harris’ comments.

At a rally in North Carolina on Saturday, Trump told his supporters: “The problem with another debate is that it’s just too late. The voting has already started.”

Harris acknowledged on Sunday that early voting had begun in some US states, but pointed out that voting would take more than a month and therefore a close election campaign would be ahead.

“This race is as close as it can be. There is a margin of error in this race,” she said.