Kamala Harris and Mike Pence will be sat 12ft apart not 7ft as originally planned at next week's VP debate, Debate Commission says
The Commission on Presidential Debates is to seat Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence 12 feet apart for their vice presidential debate next week in Salt Lake City.
The change comes after Biden's campaign raised concerns over health and safety as to the original amount of spacing between the two candidates of seven feet, due to concerns over coronavirus and in light of the president testing positive for the virus.
The Biden campaign had also asked that the candidates be allowed to stand during the debate but instead the pair will be asked to remain seated throughout.
Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris will be separated by 12 feet at their debate on Wednesday night at the University of Utah
The original plans were for the pair, Senator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence to be spaced just seven feet apart but the Biden campaign pushed for more space between them
Although such discussions had been underway before President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19, Politico reports that negotiations became increasingly fraught after Biden campaign staffers underwent testing to check that they hadn't been infected during Tuesday's presidential debate in Cleveland.
Although the guidelines for people stay at least six feet apart to avoid becoming exposed has been common throughout the pandemic, the Biden campaign had urged for the distance to be increased during the debate, given that the two candidates were to be in close proximity to one another for 90 minutes.
There was also general unease over the 'lack of mask-wearing enforcement during the presidential debate in Cleveland,' according to Politico.
Harris and Pence, pictured, will debate on Wednesday in Salt Lake City, Utah
The Cleveland Clinic had asked those in the audience to wear masks during the debate but many in the Trump team decided not to wear them, including many members of Trump's family.
'Individuals entering the debate hall were masked and, in some cases, removed their masks once seated,' said a statement from the clinic. 'A Cleveland Clinic physician did offer audience members masks, but some did not adhere to the requirement.'
'We are open to more space between the candidates, which we will be happy to discuss,' said Tim Murtaugh of the Trump campaign to Fox News. 'This is a seated debate, so it's just a matter of moving farther apart at the table.'
On Tuesday night's debate, The Cleveland Clinic had asked those in the audience to wear masks but many in the Trump team decided not to wear them, including many of his family
For Wednesday's debate, everyone is required to have a negative test before they enter the facilities, the debate hall, or the security perimeter.
Harris was campaigning in Nevada on Friday but will now travel directly to Salt Lake City where she will remain until Wednesdays debate at the University of Utah.
Pence is still planning on traveling to Salt Lake City on Monday where he will also remain until the event.
On Friday, it was revealed that his physician does not believe he needs to quarantine because he was not considered to be in close contact with Trump.
Pence has tested negative for the virus.