An influential Republican pollster, Frank Luntz, has declared the presidential debate on June 27 “the most important debate since JFK-Richard Nixon.” Both campaigns for candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden believe that their candidate will benefit from side-by-side comparison. The Biden camp is counting on Trump to be irascible and repugnant in the publics’ view, and the Trump camp is counting on Biden to live up to his “Sleepy Joe” moniker and struggle to maintain stamina and mental acuity during the demanding debate.
Biden’s Strategy
The Biden presidential campaign and his allies in Washington see the debate as an unparalleled opportunity for their candidate to shine when compared side by side with Trump. They believe the American people will find Trump repugnant when the candidates are presented as the two alternatives.
Forgotten Presidency
The Biden camp is counting on the fact that the American people have forgotten about the past Trump presidency. Democratic Strategist Amanda Loveday stated, “The ‘out of sight, out of mind’ concept of President Trump is real. I think people forget the way he interacts, the way he communicates, the inaccuracies of the things he says and promises to the American people.”
Let Trump Be Trump
Democratic advisors have suggested to Biden that he “let Trump be Trump” and thereby, in their estimation, turn off potential voters with Trump’s demonstrated views and behavior on the debate stage.
Vengeance and Retribution
Another tenor to be expected in the debate is Biden painting Trump as obsessed with vengeance and retribution for what he considers political persecution against him following the loss of the 2020 election.
Biden’s Approach
In an interview last week, President Biden commented on his plans heading into the debate. He stated that he would “Say what I think. Let him say what he thinks. The things he says are off the wall… All I have to do is hear what he says– remind people what he says and what I believe and what he believes. He’s about him. I’m about the country.”
Trump’s Strategy
The Trump advisors have their own tactics to give Trump the upper hand in the debate. He is expected to paint Biden as past his prime, unable to proficiently use a teleprompter, and attack Biden for involving American citizens in two foreign wars.
Historical Comparison
GOP Pollster Luntz made a comparison with this upcoming debate with the historical debate between JFK and Richard Nixon, emphasizing the stark visual contrast between the candidates. JFK appeared youthful and prepped, while Nixon looked weary and grizzled. In the 2024 debate, not only the candidates’ appearance, but their personalities may present the starkest contrast.
Testing Accusations
Luntz said, “We all get a chance to see whether Joe Biden is as feeble as Trump says he is. We all get a chance to see whether Donald Trump is as unhinged as Joe Biden says he is. This is our chance to test the worst accusations of the candidates against each other.”
Debate Preparation
When Biden returns from a European diplomatic tour, he will have ten days to prepare for the debate.
Referendum on Biden
The media has been touting the election in November as a referendum on Biden, meaning that voters will either support and continue Biden’s policies or vote against him based on dissatisfaction with the current political climate.
Communicating Strengths
In light of this frame, the Biden campaign has been expending considerable effort to message to the public its strengths. They have been touting a strong economy, advancement of reproductive rights, investing in infrastructure, forgiving student loan debt, and showing efforts to curb immigration at the southern border.
Polling Struggles
Despite this push to communicate victories and strengths to the voting public, the polls have not shown significant movement for Biden.
Trump’s Support
Polls continue to show that Biden is losing support to Trump. Even among Hispanic and Black voters, Trump is gaining support. This increase is partly due to the public perception that Trump is better on the economy than Biden.
