Trump-biden debates
Just a few weeks ago, political pundits would have said that seeing former President Trump and incumbent President Biden share a debate stage was almost impossible. Both mainstream party nominees carry significant political baggage. Biden faces criticism for his handling of jobs and the economy, losing core support over his policies on Gaza, his connections and support for Israel, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and concerns about his age and mental acuity. Meanwhile, Trump is embroiled in numerous legal troubles and the threat of possible convictions, which disrupt his campaign trail by forcing him to attend court rather than town halls and fundraising meetings. Opting out of a national debate seemed a strategic move for both, minimizing risks.
However, after Biden taunted Trump to debate him, reminiscent of Nikki Haley challenging Trump, the Trump campaign agreed to a two-part debate: on June 27 via CNN and on September 10 via ABC. Both networks appear friendly to the candidates, with a slight edge to Biden as they often favor liberal views. Yet, both networks have been critical of Biden's policies and performance on occasion, just as they questioned Trump's leadership during his presidency. Trump expressed enthusiasm and confidence on Truth Social, stating, “I am Ready and Willing to Debate Crooked Joe at the two proposed times in June and September. I would strongly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds – That’s only because he doesn’t get them. Just tell me when, I’ll be there. ‘Let’s get ready to Rumble!!!”
So why should Biden debate? Currently, progressive-leaning polls show him trailing Trump by 1 or 2 points, which is not a good sign for an incumbent with access to all platforms. This polling trend seems tied to Biden's decisions to send additional funding to Ukraine and Israel, along with his humanitarian policies in Gaza. These two debates are crucial because debates can significantly influence voter decisions.
