The first of two potentially pivotal US presidential debates between incumbent Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump is to be held in the small hours of Friday morning. For those eager to follow, here are the key details:
The timing and venue
The inaugural debate will commence at 2am Irish time on Friday and will be televised by CNN from an Atlanta-based studio devoid of a live audience. With four months to go before voting day on November 5th, it will be the earliest US presidential debate in recent history. ABC television network will then host the second debate on September 10th, observing identical audience-free provisions.
The personalities in charge
Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, CNN’s anchors, will facilitate the first debate. Whilst David Muir and Linsey Davis, ABC anchors, will oversee the second debate.
Participant criteria
CNN confirmed it stated that only candidates who meet its two key criteria: be represented on all state ballots, securing the potential to win the presidency, and garner a minimum of 15% in four distinct national registered or likely voter polls, will be allowed to partake. This rule set ruled out independent presidential aspirant Robert F Kennedy Jr from participating. ABC followed a similar criterion.
The framework
A 90-minute debate will take place on Friday morning, with each candidate being stationed at a standard podium, provisioned with a pen, paper, and a bottle of water. The use of props or notes will be prohibited. Microphones will be switched on solely for the candidate speaking at that time and moderators will employ all resources to uphold timings and maintain respectful discussions. The screen will depict Biden on viewers’ right podium. Based on a coin flip outcome, Trump will have the last word. During the pair of commercial breaks, there will be no interaction between candidates and their campaign personnel. Additionally, no studio audience will be present. The regulations for the ABC-conducted debate are yet to be publicised.
Points of interest
Viewership of US presidential debates often reaches tens of millions and have historically influenced electoral outcomes. This year’s event carries its own set of risks for both candidates, given the closeness of the race and voters’ perceived lack of enthusiasm for either candidate.
The advanced ages of Biden (now 81) and ex-president Trump (who is 78), have raised questions over their cognitive abilities and emotional stability in their search for presidential power making them the eldest candidates to pursue the role. Doubts shared by Trump’s staff focus on Biden’s predisposition for verbal gaffes, which could intensify electorate worry regarding the president’s ageing.
On the other hand, Biden’s team believe that debates could be harmful for Trump as they expose his inconsistency and capricious stance on issues such as abortion. The objective of Biden’s campaign is to bring up the subject of abortion while Trump’s team aims to concentrate on immigration. Nevertheless, the queries raised in the debate will be at the discretion of CNN’s moderators.
Potential topics for discussion could be how the candidates deal with unrelenting high food prices, immigrants at the US-Mexico border, and the conflicts between Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine. Trump’s participation in the attack on the US Capitol on 6th January 2021, his attempts to counteract the 2020 election outcome, and his conviction on 34 counts of felony related to his role in a cover-up payment plan might be addressed in the debate. Similarly, the legal troubles of Biden’s son, Hunter, who was found guilty of lying about his drug usage to unlawfully purchase a weapon could also be addressed.
Staff from the campaigns will be present post-debate to confer with journalists in the so-called “spin room”. Whether President Biden will be accompanied by guests has not been confirmed by the Biden campaign, however, it is anticipated the California governor Gavin Newsom will be in attendance.
A viewing party hosted by Trump’s campaign is scheduled in Atlanta, with potential Republican vice presidential candidates — North Dakota governor Doug Burgum and US senators Marco Rubio and JD Vance, among others, highlighted as “special guests.”
In the 2020 race, then-President Trump and Biden engaged in two debates, the first becoming a disorganised verbal brawl. Nielsen Media Research revealed that over 73 million individuals watched the inaugural 2020 debate between Biden and Trump.
In the second debate, the moderators decided to employ a mute button to ensure each candidate had uninterrupted opportunities to speak during the first two minutes of each debate part. The candidates, however, adhered to the rules, making the mute button largely unnecessary.
The final debate was cancelled because Trump contracted Covid-19 requiring hospitalisation for three days and he subsequently refused to partake in a virtual event.
Usually, three presidential debates are held, although a third Biden-Trump face-off has yet to be scheduled.
A campaign representative has confirmed that Kamala Harris, the Vice President, agreed to participate in a vice presidential debate, as proposed by CBS News. The debate is scheduled to occur on either the 23rd of July or the 13th of August. – Reuters