The NFL denies that it wrote Donald Trump a letter "complaining about the presidential debate schedule," a claim the Republican presidential nominee made over the weekend, according to ABC's George Stephanopoulos. Trump's campaign responded to the league's statement by saying that Trump "was made aware of conflicting dates by a source close to the league." Trump in a taped interview that aired yesterday talked about the first two debates, saying, "I’ll tell you what I don't like: it's against two NFL games. I got a letter from the NFL saying, ‘This is ridiculous, why are the debates against’ -- because the NFL doesn't want to go against the debates, because the debates are going to be pretty massive from what I understand. And I don't think we should be against the NFL. I don't know how the dates were picked. ... Hillary Clinton wants to be against the NFL, maybe like she did with Bernie Sanders, where they were on Saturday nights when nobody’s home. But they're against the NFL. I saw the dates, two of the three are against the NFL, so I'm not thrilled with that" ("This Week with George Stephanopouls," ABC, 7/31). An NFL spokesperson while confirming no letter was sent to Trump said, "Obviously we wish they were not scheduled at the same time as two of our games" (POLITICO.com, 7/30).
DOUBLE BOOKING: In DC, Eilerson & Boren reported the debate schedule was "set up last September by the Commission on Presidential Debates, a nonpartisan group with members of both parties." The commission "responded to Trump on Saturday by asserting that it 'announced the number, dates and sites for the 2016 general election debates in September 2015.'" The group said, "The CPD did not consult with any political parties or campaigns in making these decisions." Eilerson & Boren noted the first debate on Sept. 26 coincides with the "MNF" Falcons-Saints game, which "shouldn't draw overwhelming interest outside Georgia or Louisiana, two states that likely favor Trump no matter what happens between now and November." However, the Oct. 9 Giants-Packers "SNF" game, which conflicts with the second debate, "might pose a more legitimate concern." Wisconsin "could be in play for Trump in the general election" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 7/31).
TRYING TO MOVE THE DATES: Trump campaign Senior Communications Adviser Jason Miller said that the campaign will "try to move the dates" of the debates. He said, "Our position on the debates is we want as many people, as many voters, to be participants in and to see the debates as possible" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 8/1). Trump campaign Chief Strategist Paul Manafort added, "Mr. Trump is saying, 'Look, we want the maximum viewing audience.' So I'm not sure what the dates are going to be ultimately" ("Meet the Press," NBC, 7/31). ABC's Greta Van Susteren said, "It shouldn't be against the NFL, they should change that. It's like, look, why have it then? ... They should have debates when it’s not competing with something the American people also really like besides politics." The Washington Examiner's Kristen Soltis Anderson said, "I believe in 2008, 2012, wasn't it up against baseball? It's always going to be up against something and I think for a lot of voters that are really interested in tuning in, I'm less concerned about putting it up against the NFL" (“This Week," ABC, 7/31). THE MMQB's Peter King writes the NFL "obviously doesn't want one of the three debates on a Sunday night and another one on a Monday night, because it will thin the ratings for two big NFL games." King: "I doubt it will affect the ratings more than a point or two, unless there's a blowout early" (MMQB.SI.com, 8/1).
CUBAN NATIONAL: In Pittsburgh, Jason Cato noted Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban on Saturday in Pittsburgh introduced Clinton to "a crowd of several thousand." Cuban said, "I'm ready to tell the world that I endorse Hillary Clinton." He added, "Is there a bigger jagoff in the world than Donald Trump?" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 7/31).
