In recent days, both Donald Trump and Joe Biden have been preparing. Both have accepted CNN’s invitation and accepted the rules for the first presidential duel before this year’s elections in the United States. So far, they have only agreed on two presidential debates without an audience in the hall. These are usually held in September and October, but this time it’s happening in record time: On the night of Friday 28 June, at 03:00 Norwegian time, in Atlanta, Georgia. The last debate in the 2020 presidential election was labeled by many as the most tense of all time. Photo: Mike Segar / Reuters The Commission for Presidential Debates, which has organized these since 1988, has also been sidelined. The two campaigns themselves have agreed and negotiated directly with a couple of TV channels about the scheme. CNN has written to the campaigns that they hope it will be a civilized tone. Usually, it is the Commission on Presidential Debates that manages events like this in the United States. This year it is different. Photo: Patrick Semansky / AP CNN’s presenters Dana Bash and Jake Tapper will, if necessary, use all means to ensure that the rules and time are respected, it says. This involves, among other things, muting the microphones. Using the trials as shields This is the first opportunity for Biden and Trump’s election campaigns to reach a larger, national audience gathered in 2024. The last time they met, in 2020, the debate was characterized by personal accusations and recriminations. Several media labeled the duel as the worst and most tense of all time. In May, Donald Trump became the first US president ever to be convicted in a criminal criminal case. Photo: Spencer Platt / AP Trump and Biden have very different leadership styles and views on how things are going in the United States, and are both known for their temperament and for being outspoken when the script is put away. One has recently been convicted, while the other has a son who has been found guilty of offences. None of the cases have had a major impact on the measurements. Trump (78) accuses Biden (81) of being corrupt and mentally weakened by old age. This month, Hunter Biden (r) was found guilty of three counts related to the purchase of a revolver in 2018. Photo: Anna Rose Layden / Reuters His campaign often shows videos of his rival falling down stairs or speaking incoherently. Biden accuses Trump of being unstable and a threat to democracy. High stakes Now the two oldest presidential candidates will ever stand on the same stage, with the opportunity to reach new voter groups. The drop is big for both when the Americans themselves get to study facial expressions, behavior and actions on live TV. People are concerned with solutions to their own problems. Many people in the United States want a big change, a poll conducted this spring by the New York Times showed. At the same time, there is a lot of dissatisfaction with both of the most popular candidates. Photo: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP There is still high price growth for food and monthly housing costs, even though the economy and unemployment are moving in the right direction. It is uncertain whether this debate will be characterized by small, intense moments or major political discussions. In any case, it can help to strengthen the impression people have of the candidates, or weaken claims the campaigns make about the rival. Rules for the debate The campaigns have recorded which topics they want to discuss. Some details from the rules of the road for the debate are already known: The debate lasts 90 minutes, interrupted by two commercial breaks. Candidates are not allowed to talk to their advisers during the break. They each get a lectern with paper, a pen and a water bottle. They may not take effects or notes with them. Biden has chosen to stand on the right, which was decided by a coin toss last week. They are given two minutes each to answer questions and one minute to counter. There will be no opening remarks, but they will each have two minutes to summarize. Trump gets the last word, which was also decided by last week’s coin toss. A red light flashes when they have five seconds left in their speaking time. It lights up red when the time is up. The debate itself is controlled by a moderator. During the first presidential debate in 2020, it was Chris Wallace from Fox News who had this responsibility. Photo: Olivier Douliery / AP The latter was a demand from the Biden campaign. It may look strange on television if one of the candidates nevertheless chooses to continue speaking. In 2020, Trump interrupted so often that Biden finally told him to shut up: “Will you shut up, man?”. Some commentators point out that precisely the interruption meant that Biden was seen as the winner. The microphones during the year’s first debate are controlled so that when one speaks, the sound of the other is turned off. Photo: Patrick Semansky / AP This is what the election polls say An average of the national polls shows a very even race. The website FiveThirtyEight has Trump ahead by 0.6 percentage points, while the website RealClearPolitics has Trump ahead by 0.8 percentage points. It is within the margin of error. There are also small margins in the six swing states where the presidential election can be decided. Trump appears to have a lead in Georgia and North Carolina in the average polls. Most American voters are concerned with what affects their own lives, especially financially. Photo: JIM WATSON / AFP Polls from Reuters/Ipsos suggest that Biden has lost support from several voter groups since 2020. Black men, Hispanic women, younger voters, people without a college degree and suburban women are among those switching sides or moving to the growing group of undecided voters. Biden does better among independents, while Trump scores better among those who are dissatisfied with both candidates. Joe Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris at an election meeting at the end of May. Photo: Elizabeth Frantz / Reuters Rusty debaters It is almost four years since the last time the presidential candidates participated in such a format. None of them wanted to debate rivals in their own party when the nomination battle was underway. Donald Trump did not appear in any of the debates between the other Republican candidates in the primary election. Here, Nikki Haley and Ron Desantis debate in January this year. Photo: JIM WATSON / AFP The Republicans had several debates, but despite calls to participate, Trump refused. The Democratic Party did not organize any debates, but two of Biden’s rivals, Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips, even held a duel in New Hampshire just over the New Year. Biden has been helped by former chief of staff Ron Klain for the preparations, while Trump has had advisers such as Kellyanne Conway around him. Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips even held a debate in New Hampshire when they were still Biden’s rivals among the Democrats. Photo: BRIAN SNYDER / Reuters No other contenders The three other candidates seeking the White House failed to qualify. Neither Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Jill Stein nor Cornel West can show at least 15 percent support or be on the ballot in enough states to be able to win the presidential election. Biden and Trump also meet for an ABC-led presidential showdown on September 10. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has qualified for the ballots in several states. But he does not have enough support to participate in the debate. Photo: BRANDON BELL / AFP At the same time, the debate commission has selected three places and dates, should the candidates change their minds. It is currently unclear whether the commission will have a role in the one vice-presidential duel. Published 27.06.2024, at 18.08
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