The upcoming CNN debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump is highly anticipated by both camps, as neither has debated anyone in almost four years. Both Biden and Trump are confident in their ability to take the other down during the live TV event. Each camp believes that the other’s performance from four years ago will be overwhelmingly detrimental to voters, particularly those who are undecided. Both candidates see the debate as an opportunity to sway voters who are on the fence, and they are preparing in different ways for the event.
Biden’s aides are planning extensive preparation sessions for the president, possibly including a sequestered stretch at Camp David. They believe Biden’s task on stage will be straightforward: needling and taunting Trump while calling on him to explain his past comments and positions. The Biden campaign is confident in their ability to capitalize on the former president’s agreement to the debate terms and format, using it as a platform to confront Trump. They believe that no amount of preparation or rehearsed lines can cover up Trump’s controversial positions, giving them an advantage in the debate.
On the other hand, Trump’s advisers have not had formal conversations about debate preparation, particularly with the candidate himself. They believe that Trump’s freewheeling style and less structured approach to preparation align with his personality. Trump’s team is careful not to set the bar too low for Biden, while focusing on key issues such as immigration and the economy that they believe are dominating the race. They are not concerned about the format or calendar of the debate changing the dynamics of the race.
Biden’s campaign is using the June 27 debate as an organizing directive, with key dates leading up to the event that highlight their campaign’s strongest points. A new ad released by the campaign narrated by Robert De Niro takes aim at Trump’s actions during his presidency and the 2020 election. The Biden campaign believes that trolling Trump before the debate will rev up their base and set the terms of the face-off. However, some prominent Democrats worry that Biden may not come off as robust next to Trump, and they fear a potential misstep during the debate that could be damaging.
Both Biden and Trump have faced challenges in their debate preparation in the past. Biden’s sprawling prep sessions can be exhausting and not always productive, but his team is experienced in focusing him and pulling him back to key points. Trump has had difficulty staying focused in past practice sessions, with his team now including different top aides than his previous debate preparations. Overall, the upcoming debate between Biden and Trump is expected to be a pivotal moment in the election, with both candidates preparing in their own ways for the high-stakes event.
