Trump and Biden prepare for first presidential debate; key strategies
By Haley Clough
Former President Donald Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden are set to take the stage at CNN’s Atlanta studio on Thursday. The first presidential debate, scheduled for 9 p.m. ET, will be the first time Trump has taken to the debate stage for his reelection campaign, after choosing not to attend any Republican primaries.
Biden has reportedly been prepping for his showdown with Trump at Camp David in Maryland, an infamous spot for a sitting U.S. president to visit for a private retreat. Sky News contributor Kosha Gada said Biden is approaching this debate “like a midterm exam, and he’s looking to really make sure he’s prepared.”
CNN will be streaming the debate for free on CNN.com, and several other networks will offer coverage as well.
Per stipulations presented by the Biden campaign, there will be no live audience in the studio. To further reduce disruption, the two nominees’ microphones will be muted until it is their respective turn to speak.
Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, both from CNN, will be moderating and hosting the debate, per another request from the Biden campaign that the debate be hosted by a news network, not the Commission on Presidential Debates.
The two candidates are tasked with gaining traction from the debate to bolster support. Both are not entirely preferable candidates to the general population, according to recent polling. 1 in 4 voters are unenthused by both Biden and Trump. When shifting to a younger age demographic of 18 to 29, 41% of voters disapprove of both candidates.
Analysts speculate that this transition into less appreciation for either candidate, especially Biden, is accredited to the defining moments of the covid-era generation, the 18 to 22 age bracket, many of whom will be voting for the first time in this election.
Alberto Medina, a researcher at Tufts University, said Gen-Z has experienced specific factors that spur them into more action than previous generations, and that these experiences “created a lack of trust in institutions,” like school shootings, the George Floyd protests and the overturning of Roe v. Wade, all under the umbrella of the coronavirus pandemic. Altogether, these defining moments make the incumbent Biden look less than favorable, comparable to the favorability of Trump.
Campaign strategists for Trump, and Biden’s advisors, speculate Trump’s best chance to win is to deviate from his 2020 strategy of “explosive outbursts,” in favor of calculated responses to addressing major issues, not personal attacks at the opponent. For Biden, his best bet is to appeal to the public as a healthy, energetic individual with strong plans for the future of the U.S..
Statistically, Biden has a 41% approval, and Trump has a 42% approval rating with the U.S. public. Both will be vying for the support of the American people on Thursday.