NEW YORK (AP) — Presidential Debate There was a lot of material to counter the enemy.
Republican Donald Trump It has been Convicted of 34 felonies Three other serious indictments are still pending. As president, Trump appointed three justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade and infringe on abortion rights in the U.S., sparking backlash even in conservative-led states. His comprehensive plan for a second term also includes promises of retaliation against political opponents from both major parties.
But the big question for the president is Joe BidenFair or not, the question is whether he can counter Trump. Perhaps nothing matters more than the level of energy and verve the Democratic incumbent brings to the stage.
Both men have clear weaknesses that present enormous opportunities and risks to their opponents, and their successes and failures will be magnified as they face off in front of a massive national audience that will include some who tuned in to the 2020 rematch for the first time and others who won’t watch the next debate until September.
Biden and Trump are scheduled to face off for 90 minutes at 9pm ET on Thursday at CNN’s studios in Atlanta.
The key questions we look at are:
Can Biden deliver?
What you need to know about the 2024 election
The seemingly low bar for Biden’s success is at least partly the product of Trump and his Republican allies, who for years have relentlessly mocked the Democratic president’s apparent age-related failings. Trump’s allies have questioned whether Biden, 81, could stay upright and on his feet for the entire 90 minutes. Trump, 78, is a tough choice. He has also experienced failure Speaking at a rally, Trump on Saturday defended his comments during the Republican primary. Clearly confused Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley spoke for former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who told the crowd on Saturday that liberals were misinterpreting what she called a moment of “pure genius.”
Democrats are hoping Biden will bring the same energy to the presidency that he brought to his State of the Union address earlier this year, but facing off against a pugnacious opponent on live television will be very different from a scripted speech on Capitol Hill.
Biden’s team knows they can’t afford to have a bad night with the nation watching.
Will Trump be able to calm down?
With his support already firmly in place, Trump has the chance to win over some persuadable swing voters as well as the moderates who helped Biden win four years ago and who now express reservations about both candidates.
But to win over the so-called “double-dealers,” Trump will need to do more than simply rely on the hot-button talking points, personal insults and conspiracy theories he regularly uses in public. Instead of talking about retaliation and lies about the U.S. electoral system, he will need to offer an optimistic vision for the future and a clear contrast with Biden on traditional domestic issues like health care and education.
There was him His outburst was widely condemned In the first debate of 2020, he relentlessly hounded then-Democratic candidate Biden, interrupting him multiple times. In the second debate, became more gentle in tone It highlighted the two men’s vastly different visions for governance.
Can he maintain his discipline on Thursday night? Some allies are hopeful, but history may suggest otherwise.
Check criminal records
Trump’s extraordinary legal burden presents opportunities and risks for both candidates on stage.
Biden’s campaign has stepped up efforts to highlight Trump’s criminal record in recent days, but Biden himself has largely distanced himself from any prosecution of Trump, apart from some criticism, to avoid the appearance of political interference.
This photo combo taken in Columbia, South Carolina, shows former President Donald Trump (left) on Feb. 24, 2024, and President Joe Biden on Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by The Associated Press)
Trump has for years maintained, without evidence, that Biden was responsible for indicting him, and the president will not make it easy to toe that line.
Recent Opinion Polls Polls show that roughly half of American adults support Trump’s conviction in New York state, and if voters don’t care about the specific conviction, his attempt to cover up an alleged affair with a porn star isn’t bumper sticker worthy.
Biden, meanwhile, is aware that Trump may attack his son, Hunter, as the then-president did in a debate four years ago. Hunter Biden recently Convicted of three felonies “The president has also questioned Hunter Biden’s overseas business dealings while his father was vice president.
Muted microphone and moderator
As is often the case, the moderator and ground rules will determine the outcome of a debate. And the ground rules for this first of two scheduled debates are unusual.
Notably, the candidates are eschewing the traditional structure determined by the Commission on Presidential Debates, relying instead on a mutually agreed-upon set of rules and terms.
Biden and Trump will debate behind closed doors at CNN’s studios in Atlanta. There will be no opening statements. Each candidate’s microphone will be muted except when it is their turn to speak. No props or pre-written notes will be allowed on stage. Candidates will be provided with only pens, notepads, and bottles of water.
A coin toss determined that Trump would make the final statement.
The event will be hosted by two prominent CNN anchors, Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, who have not been shy about criticizing Trump’s lies and conspiracy theories.
While Bash and Tapper have led critical coverage of Biden in the past, the Biden campaign will no doubt expect them to play an active role in disproving Trump’s potential falsehoods in real time. For example, Biden’s microphone will be muted while Trump is speaking, but the moderator’s microphone will not.
Abortion and immigration
While style can sometimes be more important than substance in a debate, both candidates have serious policy challenges to overcome.
No issue is bigger than abortion for Trump. His Supreme Court appointments helped lead the court to overturn Roe v. Wade, which sparked a wave of abortion restrictions across the country. Trump has repeatedly said he was proud to have played a role in overturning Roe, and Biden will likely be keen to highlight Trump’s role.
Trump, of course, has said he wouldn’t support a nationwide abortion ban if re-elected, but given his track record on Roe, he may still have some work to do if he wants to convince women that he can be trusted on important health issues.
Biden’s biggest political liability, meanwhile, may be immigration, as Democratic administrations struggle to limit the number of migrants entering the U.S.-Mexico border. Biden’s allies privately acknowledge that the issue will be a major political liability heading into the fall.
Trump loves to highlight the issue of illegal immigration, so he is expected to attack Biden hard on the issue.
At the same time, Biden will likely face tough questions about his leadership in Israel’s war with Hamas, and the president’s staunch support for and at times criticism of Israel has alienated potential allies on both sides.
On Thursday night, he will have a key opportunity to defend his record on this complicated issue. It won’t be easy.
