Kamala Harris' presidential campaign is facing significant backlash after challenging debate rules set by ABC News, leading to accusations that the campaign is attempting to avoid the event altogether.

The controversy centers around a disagreement over the rules that will govern the debate, particularly the decision to mute candidates' microphones, sparking criticism from both political pundits and media personalities and concerns that she may withdraw from the confrontation with Donald Trump entirely, as the Daily Wire reports.

ABC News Debate Rules Spark Controversy

On Thursday afternoon, the campaign for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris came under fire online after objecting to the debate rules established by ABC News.

According to Harris spokesman Brian Fallon, the campaign had not agreed to the rule mandating muted microphones during the debate. This rule, similar to one used in the June CNN debate, would ensure that candidates’ microphones are muted while their opponent speaks.

ABC News had reportedly informed both the Harris and Trump campaigns of these rules via an email from ABC News chief counsel Eric Lieberman. The rules not only included the muted microphones but also stipulated that candidates were not allowed to have notes and that no audience would be present during the debate. The rules were designed to maintain order and prevent interruptions, a common issue in previous debates.

The Harris campaign’s objections raised concerns that they were attempting to change the rules in their favor or possibly avoid the debate altogether. This led to a wave of criticism from various political commentators who saw the move as an attempt to undermine the debate process.

Harris Campaign Faces Backlash Over Debate Tactics

Fallon stated that the Harris campaign was in ongoing discussions with ABC News regarding the final debate rules. He claimed that the Trump campaign's handlers were pushing for the microphones to remain muted despite Trump's earlier willingness to have them unmuted.

"Our latest understanding is that even though Trump said Monday he would be fine with an unmuted mic, his handlers don’t trust him to spar live with VP Harris and are asking ABC to ignore Trump’s comments and keep the mics muted or else they will back out of the debate for a third time," Fallon said.

However, this explanation did not satisfy critics. Many online personalities and commentators accused the Harris campaign of attempting to manufacture an excuse to avoid the debate. John Podhoretz, editor of Commentary magazine, criticized Fallon’s statements, accusing him of being dishonest. "Here’s the thing about shills: They are literally paid to be dishonest and disingenuous," Podhoretz remarked.

Other commentators echoed these sentiments, pointing out that the debate rules had been established well in advance and were consistent with those used in previous debates. Stephen L. Miller, host of the Versus Media podcast, noted, "Biden made these rules and ABC is abiding by the original debate rules, just as you originally wanted. Don’t know what else to tell you."

Critics Accuse Harris Campaign of Avoiding Debate

The criticism did not stop there. Ben Shapiro, editor emeritus of the Daily Wire, accused the Harris campaign of trying to avoid the debates altogether. "Stop trying to manufacture excuses to avoid debates," Shapiro wrote. He further criticized the campaign for agreeing to the original rules and then attempting to change them later, calling it "a campaign of cowardice."

Shapiro was not alone in his criticism. A writer for Red State, known by the pen name Bonchie, suggested that the Harris campaign had been caught trying to back out of the debate under the guise of challenging the rules.

"No one is buying this. Especially not after ABC News’ own memo on the rules leaked showing the rules *were always* the same as the CNN rules. You got caught trying to manufacture a reason to pull out. Own it," Bonchie wrote.

The ongoing discussions between the Harris campaign and ABC News, as indicated by Fallon, suggest that the debate rules may still be a point of contention. However, the public backlash has put the campaign in a difficult position, with many accusing them of attempting to manipulate the debate process for their advantage.

Final Debate Rules Still Uncertain

As the September 10 debate approaches, it remains unclear whether the Harris campaign will be able to secure any changes to the debate rules. The controversy has cast a shadow over the campaign, with critics suggesting that the objections to the rules are merely a tactic to avoid facing Trump on the debate stage.

Fallon’s comments have only fueled the fire, as many see them as an attempt to shift blame onto the Trump campaign while masking the Harris campaign's own reluctance to engage in a fair debate.

Despite ongoing discussions with ABC News, the established rules -- muted microphones, no notes, and no audience -- appear to be set in stone.

With the public and media personalities closely watching, the Harris campaign's next move will be critical. Whether they proceed with the debate under the current rules or continue to push for changes, the outcome could have significant implications for the campaign and its public perception.