Well, Well, Well: The Political Circus is Back in Town!

Mark your calendars, folks! The Democratic National Convention has sashayed off into the sunset, and we've got ourselves a presidential showdown set for 2024. Buckle up, because this is going to be a wild ride.

In a move that shocked absolutely no one, 81-year-old President Joe Biden took a step back after withdrawing his candidacy in late July. Vice President Kamala Harris is now our Democratic champ, accepting her nomination with an emotional speech that probably had even the most stone-hearted Republicans reaching for the tissues.

Meanwhile, over at the Republican National Convention—which, let's be honest, was basically a Trump family reunion—the former president secured his nomination with a roll-call vote. And who's his sidekick this time? None other than Senator JD Vance of Ohio. Because when you think "presidential running mate," you think Ohio, right?

With less than three months until the big day in November, get ready for the main event: a presidential debate between Harris and Trump. This is going to be like the ultimate political smackdown.

When is the next presidential debate 2024?

Clear your schedules, because the next presidential debate is coming up fast. ABC News is hosting the extravaganza on Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. Central Time in Philadelphia. It's the first time Harris and Trump will go head-to-head, and it might be the only time they face off in a debate. Trump, ever the opportunist, has proposed two additional debates with Fox News on Sept. 4 and NBC News on Sept. 25. But the Harris campaign isn't playing that game just yet, according to CBS News.

Remember the first presidential debate back in June? CNN hosted that hot mess in Atlanta, where Trump and Biden faced off. Biden was criticized for his performance, but let's be real—he's still cooler than any Republican out there.

Who will moderate the 2024 presidential debate?

Get ready for some intense questioning from "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir and ABC News Live "Prime" anchor Linsey Davis. They'll be moderating the debate, according to ABC News. Hope they're stocked up on coffee, because this is going to be a long night.

When is the vice presidential debate 2024?

The vice presidential debate is set, with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance getting ready to take the stage. CBS News invited both candidates to debate in New York on Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1, and Oct. 8. Walz confirmed his participation on X, writing, "See you on October 1, JD." Get ready for some serious Midwest versus East Coast action.

Key dates for the 2024 presidential election

Voters across the U.S. will start heading to the polls as early as next month, when Pennsylvania kicks off early voting on Sept. 16. The official Election Day falls on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Other key dates:

• Dec. 17: Electors vote
• Jan. 6: Congress counts electoral votes
• Jan. 20: Inauguration

See when your state opens early voting.

Does the US await an 'October Surprise' in 2024? What it means and past examples

As we count down to the election, there's always that pesky "October Surprise" lurking in the shadows. Each election cycle brings unexpected events that can make or break a campaign. Here are some examples from past years:

• 1972: Nixon's "Peace is at Hand" announcement: Nixon's National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger tried to convince us the Vietnam War was ending, boosting Nixon's re-election chances.
• 1980: The Iran hostage crisis: Jimmy Carter couldn't secure the release of American hostages in Iran before Election Day, which critics said contributed to his defeat by Ronald Reagan.
• 1992: Iran-Contra indictment: Days before the election, Special Prosecutor Lawrence Walsh indicted Caspar Weinberger, linking George H.W. Bush to the Iran-Contra scandal and hurting his re-election bid against Bill Clinton.
• 2000: George W. Bush's DUI revelation: Five days before the election, news of Bush's DUI arrest emerged, possibly impacting swing voters in a historically close race.
• 2016: James Comey's letter on Clinton's emails: FBI Director James Comey reopened the investigation into Hillary Clinton's email use 11 days before the election, contributing to her defeat against Donald Trump (although she won the popular vote, because of course).
• 2020: Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis: Incumbent Trump was hospitalized for COVID-19 in October, bringing renewed attention to the administration's handling of the pandemic.

Brace yourselves, folks. The political roller coaster is just getting started.