By: Sophie Li

The Atlanta debate this coming Thursday between President Biden and former President Donald Trump is set to be a high-stakes determinant in their Presidential campaigns.

Format
Unlike previous debates, this 90-minute debate will be hosted by CNN instead of a nonpartisan commission. A live audience will not be present, and mics will be muted when it is not a candidate’s turn to speak. The debate format will give each candidate two minutes to answer questions, followed by a one-minute rebuttal and response to the rebuttal.

Any potential mistakes can linger for months, as the next debate will be in September.
“This is a big inflection point,” said Karl Rove, a leading Republican strategist to The New York Times. “Can Biden be consistently cogent, causing people to say, ‘Well, maybe the old guy is up to it?’ And is Trump going to be sufficiently restrained that people say, ‘You know what, it really is about us, not about him?’”

Poll results
As of June 24, polls show former President Trump and President Biden essentially tied. Both presidents are wrapped up in legal dramas, with Mr. Trump found guilty of 34 criminal charges and Mr. Biden’s son Hunter convicted over felony gun charges. In addition, both candidates are some of the oldest ever, with Mr. Biden the oldest sitting president in US history.

Biden’s strategy
Mr. Biden prepares via mock debates, with the part of Mr. Trump played by Mr. Biden’s personal attorney Bob Bauer. By focusing on Mr. Trump’s involvement in Roe v. Wade and his many criminal convictions, Mr. Biden will warn of a disastrous and chaotic second term should Mr. Trump get elected. He hopes to sway Independent voters and even moderate Republicans.
“This debate is an opportunity to show the American people what those of us who watch Donald Trump all day, professionally, are seeing, which is that he is more unhinged, he is more dangerous, he is out for revenge, and anything that raises those stakes directly with the American people is a net positive for us,” said Rob Flaherty, a deputy campaign manager for Mr. Biden to The New York Times.

Trump’s strategy
Mr. Trump took a radically different approach to prepare for the coming debate. He participates in “policy sessions,” where he discusses policies and debate topics with Republican senators and strategists. Mr. Trump will make the case that America is in a worse condition under Mr. Biden’s leadership by targeting his weak points, inflation and immigration. Mr. Trump will also attack Mr. Biden’s mental abilities given his public slipups and age. Mr. Trump’s advisors hope he will steer the debate away from his false claims of a stolen 2020 election.

“The true benchmark for Thursday’s debate should be whether or not Joe Biden can defend his disastrous record on inflation and the out-of-control border invasion versus President Trump’s unquestioned first-term record of success,” said Steven Cheung, Mr. Trump’s communications director to the New York Times.
The debate will likely address the economy, immigration policy, and reproductive rights, but as of June 24, CNN has not yet announced the debate topics.