Millions of eyeballs will be on Thursday’s debate — here’s what to watch for as Biden and Trump face off.
Will any gaffes or knockout punches break through? Conversations on policy are unlikely to break through, but viewers could remember a serious lapse or a zinger that lands.
Will character or policy rule the day? Both sides have lobbed personal attacks — Biden has dubbed Trump a “convicted felon” and threat to democracy, and Trump has essentially called the president, without evidence, the leader of a crime syndicate. Will the debate stay focused on issues like abortion, immigration and the economy? Or will the two candidates opt for a more scorched-Earth stance?
Typically, a sitting president is debating a governor or senator, with the incumbent’s record the main focus. But Trump also spent four years in the White House. Whose record will get more scrutiny?
The debate is happening uniquely early in an election cycle. It remains unclear if any big moments will be washed away by November, or if it’ll help set the tone heading into the summer.
The debate is also featuring a novel format — microphones will be cut off when candidates aren’t recognized to speak, and there will be no audience to feed off of. That could deprive Trump of the energy he seeks, helping Biden. But the microphone cutoffs could help “enforce some discipline” on Trump, said GOP strategist David Kochel.
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