Good morning and welcome to Tuesday. It’s time for the presidential debate. Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will face off onstage for the first time in Philadelphia, in a broadcast that will air at 9 p.m. EST on ABC News. (POLITICO’s liveblog will go live roughly an hour before the debate here.) There are certainly plenty of topics for the moderators to cover given just how much the race has changed since Trump and President Joe Biden debated in June. The questions the candidates are likely to face are meant for a broader audience, but certain topics, from health care coverage to policies in Latin America, would be especially relevant to Florida voters. Given this, we’ve assembled a list of questions — some suggested by your fellow Florida Playbook readers — the moderators could ask that would matter here: … QUESTIONS FOR TRUMP … — You said this week that you will support Florida’s cannabis amendment. Why did you take the opposite position of Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican Party of Florida? — The state where you live has among the highest number of people without health insurance in the U.S., though the Affordable Care Act covers 4.2 million people there. Given that, where do you stand now on repealing the health care law, after failing to do so during your time in office and promising to make the law better earlier this year? — In July, Judge Aileen Cannon in Florida threw out the case against you involving charges of hoarding classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and obstructing their return. The case is being appealed, but given that Judge Cannon oversaw the case against you, would you rule out considering her as a possible appointee to the Supreme Court? — One in five people who live in Florida are seniors. You’ve promised to do away with taxes on Social Security. But those taxes help pay for the program, which is already projected to become unsustainable in 2035 and trigger cuts. How would you resolve that problem? — You’ve said that you think Florida’s abortion law is “too short” because it cuts off legalization at six weeks. Yet you also said you’d vote against a ballot referendum that would make abortion more accessible. How many weeks do you think abortion should be restricted to in your home state? — You live in a state facing rising sea levels, more intense storms and sweltering heat. You’ve called climate change a “hoax” and promised to promote oil and gas drilling. How would you redirect or reshape the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate policies if elected? … QUESTIONS FOR HARRIS … — Ten states, including Florida, haven’t leveraged the part of the Affordable Care Act that provides Medicaid to low-income people. Would you change the health care law so that those people would get health insurance under your presidency? And why, as vice president, did you and President Biden not pursue the 2020 campaign’s promise to establish a government-run public option insurance plan? — Florida voters in November will consider enshrining abortion rights into the state constitution. Your campaign has said you support allowing abortion up to viability, which is between 22 and 24 weeks. But a bill the Biden administration supported provided broad health exceptions for later abortions. Can you lay out which exceptions for abortion during later pregnancy you would support? — Many migrants in Florida have fled socialist dictatorships. Your runningmate said during a campaign call not long ago that “one person’s socialism is another person’s neighborliness.” Do you agree with that statement, and what would you say to reassure people who might be concerned about that kind of rhetoric? — Florida’s hospitality industry is closely watching a “No Tax on Tips” pitch from Trump. You’ve supported that policy. But the Inflation Reduction Act that you helped pass is set to tax instances in which Americans receive more than $600 from apps like Vemno and PayPal — where many now receive tips because so few people carry cash around. How would you resolve that? — When President Joe Biden was at the top of the ticket your campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, declared that Florida was “winnable.” Then campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said Florida wasn’t a battleground. What do you think? — You’ve often traveled to Florida in your time as vice president to criticize the state’s laws on education, diversity, abortion and guns. If the state is so bad, why do you think people keep moving there? … QUESTIONS FOR BOTH HARRIS AND TRUMP … — Both of your home states have a serious problem with the cost of property insurance, which is putting pressure on housing affordability. In what ways, if any, can the federal government help? — Please lay out how you would handle the current contested election in Venezuela. Who won the election and what sanctions, if any, should the U.S. impose to pressure President Nicolás Maduro? — Haitian migrants have taken the life-threatening journey to Florida by sea to escape gang violence. What do you think is the right response to help Haiti govern itself? — Body footage was released yesterday of police forcefully removing Miami Dolphins star receiver Tyreek Hill from his car, bringing him to the ground and handcuffing him during a traffic stop, while also confronting his teammates who pulled over to help. Was this excessive use of force, and should there be made any nationwide reforms to policing? Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget in the campaign reporting that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com.
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