National

Joe Biden will appear at a town hall event hosted by ABC News and moderated by George Stephanopoulos in Philadelphia on Oct. 15, the network announced on Thursday.

Why it matters: The second presidential debate was set for Oct. 15 until President Trump, and then Biden, backed out on Thursday. Trump first refused to attend the debate after the Commission on Presidential Debates announced that it would be held virtually, and Biden indicated that that he too would skip it if Trump would not show.

Joe Biden to attend town hall event after Trump pulls out of second debate

The event will take place on Oct. 15 — the original date for the second debate.

Joe Biden boarding his campaign plane at an airport in New Castle, Delaware, on Oct. 8.

Joe Biden boarding his campaign plane at an airport in New Castle, Delaware, on Oct. 8. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Politics

Joe Biden

2020 election

Joe Biden will appear at a town hall event hosted by ABC News and moderated by George Stephanopoulos in Philadelphia on Oct. 15, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="network announced" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1314279438398431232" data-vars-content-id="b38f151e-2b85-468c-b54c-841e7839141b" data-vars-headline="Joe Biden to attend town hall event after Trump pulls out of second debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1314279438398431232" target="_blank">network announced</a> on Thursday.Why it matters: The second presidential debate was set for Oct. 15 until President Trump, and then Biden, backed out on Thursday. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump first refused" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/trump-biden-debate-remote-coronavirus-c57f521e-fca5-46d8-aeed-9ec2ca1b3c2b.html" data-vars-content-id="b38f151e-2b85-468c-b54c-841e7839141b" data-vars-headline="Joe Biden to attend town hall event after Trump pulls out of second debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/trump-biden-debate-remote-coronavirus-c57f521e-fca5-46d8-aeed-9ec2ca1b3c2b.html" target="_self">Trump first refused</a> to attend the debate after the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Commission on Presidential Debates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.debates.org/2020/10/08/cpd-announces-second-presidential-debate-will-be-virtual/" data-vars-content-id="b38f151e-2b85-468c-b54c-841e7839141b" data-vars-headline="Joe Biden to attend town hall event after Trump pulls out of second debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.debates.org/2020/10/08/cpd-announces-second-presidential-debate-will-be-virtual/" target="_blank">Commission on Presidential Debates</a> announced that it would be held virtually, and Biden indicated that that he too would skip it if Trump would not show.

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Joe Biden to attend town hall event after Trump pulls out of second debate

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