The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has accepted the rules of next week’s debate against Republican Donald Trump, including microphones being muted when it is not a candidate’s turn to speak.

The debate will be the first between Trump and Harris, who took over as the Democratic candidate for the US presidency after Joe Biden stepped aside on July 21.

It followed pressure after Biden’s faltering debate performance in late June against Trump.

The rules agreed to are the same as those for the debate between Biden and Trump. Under other rules:

• There will be no opening statements, and each candidate will have two minutes for a closing statement
• Trump and Harris will each have two minutes to answer questions, two minutes for rebuttals and another minute for “follow-ups, clarifications, or responses”
• They cannot ask questions of each other
• Each will be allowed a pen, notepad and bottle of water but no pre-written notes or props
• They will not be allowed to interact with campaign staff during either of the two commercial breaks.

A source, who declined to be identified, said the Harris campaign was still hoping for moments where ABC News, which will host Tuesday’s debate, was forced to unmute the mics and let the candidates respond.

Harris’s rise to the top of the Democratic ticket has re-energised a Democratic campaign that had harboured doubts about Biden’s chances.

Polls showed that Trump had built a lead over Biden, including in battleground states. Harris has since edged ahead of the Republican presidential candidate in some national opinion polls.

At the weekend, Harris called on Trump to debate her with their microphones switched on throughout the event.

So-called “hot mics” can help or hurt political candidates, catching off-hand comments that sometimes are not meant for the public. Muted microphones also prevent the debaters from interrupting their opponent.

Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz and Republican rival JD Vance have agreed to an October 1 debate on CBS News.

-with AAP