Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are scheduled to face off at their first United States presidential debate on Sept. 10 — and, according to a recent poll, not many people expect the two candidates to discuss digital assets.
According to a survey conducted by Benzinga between Sept. 9 and 10 among 133 adults, only 6% were most interested in hearing either Vice President Harris or Trump talk about cryptocurrency. Roughly 45% said they preferred to listen to the presidential candidates discuss the economy and jobs, with 24% suggesting immigration be a topic.
The first and possibly only US presidential candidate in 2024, scheduled for 9:00 pm ET on ABC News, will occur 56 days before Election Day and six days before in-person early voting begins in Pennsylvania. Trump has claimed to be a Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto advocate as part of his 2024 campaign, while Vice President Harris has been largely silent about her position on digital asset policies.
It’s unclear whether ABC moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir intend to ask the candidates about crypto or blockchain or whether either Harris or Trump could bring up the issue themselves. The advocacy group Chamber of Progress sent a letter to Davis and Muir on Sept. 5 asking them to give voters an opportunity “to know where the nominees stand on crypto before they head to the ballot box in November.”
Different approaches to crypto
Vice President Harris, who launched her campaign on July 21 after US President Joe Biden said he would not seek reelection, has released details about her planned policies if elected in 2024. The platform included prioritizing innovation in the economy and ensuring that “America, not China,” remained a leader in innovative industries but did not explicitly mention cryptocurrency.
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While in office from 2017 to 2021, Trump reportedly told his Treasury Secretary to “go after” Bitcoin at the regulatory level. After leaving the White House, he referred to the cryptocurrency as a “scam” and based “on thin air.” Only after announcing his reelection run in 2022 did the Republican candidate adopt a policy platform focused on supporting BTC miners, opposing central bank digital currencies, and releasing his own line of non-fungible tokens.
Before President Biden dropped out of the race, many crypto advocates hoped to see Trump or the Democratic candidate mention crypto at a June 27 debate. Since the creation of cryptocurrency, no US presidential candidate has mentioned digital assets on the debate stage.
As of Sept. 10, many polls show Harris neck and neck with Trump nationwide, with crucial battleground states leaning either Republican or Democrat. Money from crypto-funded political action committees may also influence the outcome of several congressional races in 2024, which could impact control of the US House of Representatives and the Senate.
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