There is talk that Donald Trump may skip the three scheduled presidential debates.

When pressed, Trump denies it. But the talk did not arise in a vacuum. Trump’s campaign has for days been issuing threats and making public demands for changes to the debate schedule. This may be nothing more than an effort, or hope, to reschedule the debates so they don’t clash with football games that will doubtless draw viewers away. But it’s also the kind of thing a campaign might say to prepare the ground, or create an excuse, to get out of it.