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Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders on Thursday explored staging an unconventional US presidential debate that would sideline Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and create a television spectacle that could attract huge ratings.
The two men – a billionaire and a democratic socialist – expressed their interest in a one-on-one encounter in California even though the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates traditionally do not debate each other until the parties have selected their nominees.
Trump said a debate with Sanders could raise up to $15 million for charity.
I’d love to debate Bernie. I think it would get very high ratings. It would be in a big arena. I’d love to debate Bernie, but they’ll have to pay a lot of money for it.Donald Trump
Trump’s spokesperson Hope Hicks said in an email there were no formal plans for such a debate yet. But Sanders’ campaign manager, Jeff Weaver told CNN that there had been “a few discussions” between the campaigns about the details.
We hope that he will not chicken out. We hope Donald Trump has the courage to get on stage now that he said he would.Jeff Weaver
Sanders, a US senator from Vermont, is running far behind Clinton in the race for the Democratic nomination for the presidential election that is set to take place on 8 November.
But a nationally televised debate with the presumptive Republican nominee would be a big boost to his chances in the California primary on 7 June, when Clinton is likely to clinch the nomination.
The idea was hatched during an appearance by Trump on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live late on Wednesday. Kimmel said he asked Trump about the debate at the suggestion of Sanders, who is scheduled to appear on the show on Thursday night.
Clinton, who backed out of an agreement to debate Sanders before the California vote, said she did not think a Trump-Sanders showdown would happen.
This doesn’t sound like a serious discussion. I’m looking forward to debating Donald Trump in the general election. I really can’t wait to get on the stage with him.Hillary Clinton
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