by Alexis Simendinger & Kristina Karisch | The Hill
There has been so much media buildup ahead of tonight’s debate, we hesitate to do more than mention that it begins at 9 p.m. EDT on CNN, will be carried by other networks — and ends around 10:30 p.m.
President Biden spent days preparing at Camp David, eager to draw more voters his way in a contest that’s basically tied, according to polls. He wants to best former President Trump on substance, temperament, clarity and vision. The voters Biden needs to woo are fence-sitters with misgivings about Trump.
The former president, who is not shy about denouncing the president in personal terms and inventing dark narratives, seeks to stir doubts about the incumbent while appearing to be quick, energized, unflinching — a tough guy. Only 72 percent of voters who said they cast a ballot for Biden four years ago say they approve of the job he is doing as president. And voters overall say they now trust Trump more on the issues that matter most to them, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll released Wednesday.
House Democrats say they’re rooting for Biden to throttle Trump during the debate. The president “should be aggressive,” said Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), a former head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. “He’s got a great record to run on, and he should call out Trump appropriately for what he’s not able to do — that he doesn’t have a plan.”
Likeability coupled with a plan for the future are qualities that historically win over debate audiences.
What are some of the obvious pitfalls? The economy. Age. Immigration. Biden is never described as a dazzling communicator and many of his policies are opaque to Americans. Trump is described as squeezed within his party on abortion, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and contraception. Republican challengers spent a primary season warning voters that Trump sows chaos. Oh, and he lost the last election and is a convicted felon.
