#Trump wants to debate Joe Biden before first mail-in ballots are sent out

President Trump says he wants the presidential debates earlier so that they can happen before ballots are mailed, and that he’s heard Biden wants to avoid the forums altogether.

“The first debate should be at least before the first ballots go out and they have it a month later, almost a month later — it’s ridiculous.” Trump said Wednesday during a “Fox & Friends” interview.

Trump added, “What’s more important to me is the first debate be moved up so that when people are putting in their first ballot, they’re going to know.”

Trump opposes mass mail-in balloting adopted in eight states due to the coronavirus pandemic, arguing it could lead to greater fraud due to “harvesting” of ballots.

Trump’s campaign sees debates as a key vulnerability for Biden, with Trump highlighting the former vice president’s gaffes and frequent confusion on issues as potential evidence that he’s mentally unfit for office.

The first debate is scheduled for Sept. 29 in Cleveland, Ohio, followed by an Oct. 15 debate in Miami, Florida, and an Oct. 22 debate in Nashville, Tennessee.

“I’m ready to debate. I don’t care. I hear he wants to get out but that he has in all fairness to him he has not said that,” Trump said. “My people are telling me that they’re playing very cute. They’re trying to get out, there’s no question about that.”

The three debates were set by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Trump said he believes the nonprofit organization, formed in 1987, is biased against him.

“This is a Clinton-Obama type commission and, you know, they call it a beautiful name, but I’m not happy with it,” he said.

Trump said in 2016 the commission “apologized to me for what they did, they were oscillating my mic during one debate. They’ve actually apologized, if you can believe it, I have it in writing.”

Biden committed to the traditional three debates, his wife Jill Biden said in an interview Tuesday. Trump reportedly deputized former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to press for additional debates.