President Biden and former President Trump will face off in Atlanta on Thursday in the first of two planned debates, as the two fight for the upper hand in a tight and contentious race.
The historic showdown will mark the first debate for each of the White House candidates since 2020, as well as the first between a sitting and former president.
Here are five great things to watch:
What version of Trump appears?
Trump’s combative nature was in full swing four years ago when he went toe-to-toe with Biden in the first presidential debate of 2020, which some Republicans say cost him the election.
But last week, at a rally in Philadelphia, Trump asked his supporters whether he should be “tough or nasty” or “be nice and calm” in the debate.
“I think we’re going to see a combination,” said Ford O’Connell, a Republican strategist. “What Trump will want people to end up thinking is that Biden doesn’t have the capacity, the agility and the mental acuity to serve another four years.”
But Trump’s typically bold acting style may again seem at odds with Biden’s more restrained performance, said Aaron Kall, director of the University of Michigan’s debate program.
The former president needs to challenge “the caricature that exists of him as a debater” and avoid turning the debate into a campaign rally, Kall said.
But Democrats say they are hoping for Trump’s signature bombast, which they believe will refresh voters’ memories of his administration.
“President Biden’s case is strengthened by voters who remember how chaotic American politics was when Donald Trump was president,” said Jamal Simmons, former communications director for Vice President Harris. “The more Americans see the whole of Donald Trump, the more likely they are to reject him.”
Does Biden seem so perceptive?
Biden’s reelection bid was dogged by concerns about his age and physical condition for another four years, and his team expressed frustration when his onstage missteps made headlines.
On Thursday, he may try to replicate his brash, political appearance at this year’s State of the Union.
“The president shows up in a way that gives people a lot of comfort,” Simmons said. “If he performs in the debates the same way he performed in the last two states of the union, I think people will feel very comfortable with President Biden being reelected.”
Trump has also faced scrutiny for some verbal mix-ups — and both candidates will work to avoid slip-ups that could turn into a nasty viral moment.
How are Trump and Hunter Biden’s guilty verdicts handled?
Trump will take the debate stage on Thursday as the first former president convicted of serious crimes, after a Manhattan jury found him guilty of falsifying business records last month.
The conviction has thrown the 2024 presidential race into uncharted waters, but polls so far suggest the legal blow has failed to dent Trump’s momentum, with Trump maintaining an advantage in critical swing states even after the verdict.
Still, Biden’s campaign has leaned on Trump’s conviction — raising questions about whether he will take up significant airtime during Thursday’s debate.
Blunting Republicans’ arguments about an armed Justice Department is the recent conviction of Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, in a federal gun case.
The incumbent is not implicated, but some Democrats have raised concerns that this could weigh on Biden as he seeks another term.
Hunter Biden faces a second trial in September, just weeks before the second scheduled presidential debate.
“Biden will try to provoke Trump as much as possible…he wants the out-of-control Trump, not the restrained presidential Trump,” said Erik Nisbet, a professor of political analysis and communications at Northwestern University.
Trump, however, could use Hunter Biden’s story to “provoke Biden to get emotional and somehow appear weak,” he added.
Trump fights with CNN moderators?
The week of debates began on Monday with CNN anchor Kasie Hunt sparring with Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt over the moderator’s treatment of Trump. Hunt interrupted the interview after Leavitt repeatedly attacked CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
The incident appeared to heighten tensions between the former president and the cable news channel, which date back to his first presidential run in 2015.
“The biggest concern if you’re Trump right now isn’t Biden, it’s the moderators,” said one Republican strategist. “That’s why you saw Karoline warn them.
“This is very similar to just before a boxing match, you are going to try to relax the referees,” the strategist added.
Much of Trump’s political career has been defined by his attacks on the media, which he and his supporters argue are biased against him and conservatives.
“I would be surprised if he didn’t attack the media, the negotiators and the rules on stage,” said Simmons, who is a CNN political commentator.
Will there be a clear winner?
After the debate, both Biden and Trump will claim victory. What’s less clear is the impact the event will have on the campaign as a whole.
Unlike previous presidential debates, this year’s first debate will take place before the party nominating conventions. Democrats hope the start of this debate and the one in September will give them a boost with early and mail-in voting.
“Having an early debate helps people focus on Trump,” Simmons said, referring to voters who weren’t as attentive to the election before the debate.
Republicans say that doesn’t necessarily matter, pointing to Biden’s handling of issues like inflation and immigration.
“The difference here is that Joe Biden is saddled with a record and this is not 2020 when talking about possible President Joe Biden,” O’Connell said.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
