Thank Covid if it gets rid of this one thing

There will be no perfunctory handshakes and reportedly no planned opening statements when the first of three presidential debates kicks off Tuesday.

Former Vice President Joe Biden and President Trump can thank the novel coronavirus for altering tradition during the 90-minute live broadcast. They aren’t obligated to clasp hands and pretend that civility and good sportsmanship still exist in 2020.

It’s also pointless to open the show with a pitch designed to sway the undecided voter. This year’s particularly virulent strain of partisan fever has wiped out what was left of that dwindling population. It’d be easier to find a Nepalese yeti in Cleveland than a voter who truly hasn’t decided between the two diametrically opposed candidates and their political parties.