Senate Republicans are urging former President Trump to avoid a repeat of his much-maligned debate performance against President Biden four years ago when the two reunite on stage Thursday for a pivotal moment in their rematch.
Trump’s 2020 debate performance is remembered for the interruptions, heckles and heckles Biden and debate moderator Chris Wallace — as well as his infamous response that the Proud Boys should “stand back and stand by.”
Now Republicans are asking him to tone it down in the name of presidential success.
“Don’t take the bait,” said Sen. John Thune (SD), the No. 2 Senate Republican running to become leader next year. “Behavior is important, tone is important. I think you can be decisive and strong, as he is, but I think in many ways you want to give President Biden as much of a rope as possible because I don’t think that’s likely to work out well for him.”
“That’s why you play with them, right? The debates will be as important as they always have been,” she continued. “If [Trump] get out there and just show strength and leadership, but keep a calm demeanor and let Biden go, everything is going well for him.”
This week’s debate, which is scheduled before both national conventions for the first time since the advent of televised debates in 1960, is expected to become one of the first big moments in the general election battle.
It could be a turning point in the race, where Biden has struggled to fend off Trump in state polls.
But as failed candidates of the past can attest, a campaign can turn around with one bad night — just as it did for Trump four years ago. Republicans are hopeful the shoe will fall on the other side this round.
“The main focus will be: Is Biden capable?” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a key Trump ally in the upper chamber.
“If I were President Trump, I would talk about the right way and the wrong way,” he continued. “I don’t think he needs to be overly aggressive. Just argue that if you think we’re on the wrong path, you’re right.”
Trump immediately agreed to Thursday’s debate at CNN’s Atlanta studios, after saying for months that he wanted as many debates against Biden as possible. His campaign spent weeks lowering expectations around Biden’s performance, portraying the president as weak, sick and mentally incompetent.
But Trump’s team is also preparing for the possibility that Biden will exceed expectations, laying the groundwork for calling the performance a sham — just as it did after Biden’s State of the Union address in early March.
Biden’s team also took advantage of the opportunity to debate next week as they hope to raise the stakes of this election and put the race on the map for some voters who have not yet turned their attention to the political season.
“I think they’re going to look for other clues in terms of: Is President Biden’s response able to answer all the questions in a relevant way and is President Trump on track?” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (RW.Va.) said. “Who knows? That’s why I think [the debate] presents all types of questions.
Biden left for Camp David Thursday to participate days of extensive debate preparation – a process Trump has avoided since launching his 2016 presidential campaign.
The importance of Thursday, however, is not lost on Trump supporters, who are well aware of what happened four years ago. Not only was Trump super aggressive and barely allowed Biden to say a word, but he was also visibly sweating, a fact that worsened days later when he tested positive for COVID-19.
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), who is reportedly on Trump’s list to become his running mate, acknowledged what’s at stake but remained confident that the former president will see a favorable outcome.
“I think it’s going to be a good night, but it’s a very important night,” Vance said. “He just needs to present his case to the American people. There is a very clear contrast between how things were under him and how they were under Biden. It just, I think, has to hit that theme and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Other Trump supporters are optimistic that he will flip the script in 2020 and beyond.
“Trump is going to kick your a-‑,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). “You can quote me on that.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
