After interruptions plagued the last debate, each candidate will have their microphone cut for two minutes to allow their rival to respond to the moderator’s questions. ©AFP/File Brendan Smialowski
Washington (AFP) – The two candidates face off at the final debate on Thursday evening; Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination edges closer; and Trump turns on Fox over polls that predict his defeat.Here’s what’s going on in the US presidential campaign with 12 days to go.

– Debate showdown –

Donald Trump and Joe Biden head to Nashville for only their second on-stage clash of the campaign.

After the constant interruptions of the last debate, each candidate will have their microphone cut for two minutes to allow their rival to respond to the moderator’s questions before open debate.

Trump, a confident and aggressive performer, could risk it all as he seeks to turn around his struggling reelection efforts by landing a knockout punch on Biden.

– Court win for Trump –

The Senate Judiciary Committee pushed through Trump’s conservative pick for the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett, as Democrats boycotted the vote saying it was too close to the November 3 election.

The unanimous vote, with all Democrats absent, sets the stage for full Senate approval at the beginning of next week on Barrett, who will tilt the high court firmly to the right.

Biden said he plans a bipartisan panel on reforming the court to tackle its politicization, which he called “out of whack.”

–  Raging against the polls –

Trump kicked out against Fox News over its polls that backed up other data suggesting he was falling behind in the key states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Trump won all three in 2016, but Fox said Biden was up 12 points in Michigan, five points in Pennsylvania, and five points in Wisconsin, with Biden scoring strongly among female voters.

“FoxNews Polls are totally FAKE, just like they were in 2016,” Trump tweeted. “I am leading in all of the states mentioned, which you will soon see.”

Disclaimer: Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Source: AFP.