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This Is When Trump And Clinton Will Debate

by Abby Johnston

Y'all, I'm about to blow your minds: The general election still hasn't started. So all of the debates, campaigning, and fanfare is about to return with a vengeance. After the respective party conventions this summer, the Republican nominee Donald Trump and presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton (I mean, let's admit it now, could we?) will be able to focus on ripping each other apart. So when will Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have their first debate? You need to pay attention, because you're going to want to watch this.

The sixteen-candidate debate split between undercard and primary candidates are no more. The tense inter-party fighting is gone. Now it's back to good ol' fashioned partisan politics, and there's a busy debate schedule for Clinton and Trump to show the American public who is more qualified to be president. Before the election is done, there are three debates scheduled for Trump and Clinton, assuming that Clinton is the Democratic nominee (again, come on, y'all).

The first debate of the general election is scheduled to be held on September 26 in Dayton, Ohio. Two other debates will be held in October, the first in St. Louis and the second in Las Vegas.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Additionally, there is a fourth vice presidential debate scheduled for October 4 in Virginia, though exactly who will be on stage is a bit of a mystery. Traditionally, the candidates don't announce who their running-mate will be until the party conventions, but there is a lot of speculation about who both of the candidates will choose. Strangely, Trump's fellow mogul/reality TV star Mark Cuban has been floated as a potential running-mate for both Clinton and Trump, which seems unlikely, but would also make for pretty good television. Maybe he can just debate himself?

But you don't need to count on the vice presidential debate for entertainment. I'm sure that the debate between Clinton and Trump will be enough to keep interests afloat. Mostly, it'll be interesting to see how perpetually vague Trump handles the hawkish and specific Clinton, who is known to drill down pretty deep into policy debates. Trump will finally not be able to divert attention between large numbers of candidates or be able to slip under the radar by insulting someone. With just Clinton and Trump left, we'll finally be able to see both candidates' true colors. So gear up, because the general election debates are finally upon us.