What to Watch in the First Presidential Debate of 2024
How will age come up?
Biden, 81, and Trump, 78, are the oldest major party candidates to vie for the White House, raising concerns among voters especially given their recent slip-ups.
Earlier this year, Biden identified Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as Mexico’s leader. More recently, he went viral for appearing to freeze during a musical performance at the White House’s Juneteenth celebration.
Trump, who tends to ramble during his rallies, has mixed up politicians’ names, notably when he confused former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with his Republican primary rival Nikki Haley for several minutes during a New Hampshire speech.
Both campaigns have used clips, sometimes deceptively edited, to raise questions about the contenders’ mental acuity on social media.
How will Trump’s conviction be treated?
Trump, who in May was found guilty of all 34 charges in a hush-money trial and faces three more criminal trials, has capitalized on his legal woes, getting a flood of donations that helped propel his fundraising haul past Biden’s last month.
Biden’s reelection campaign launched a $50 million June advertising blitz citing the verdict in an ad called “Character Matters.”
Another conviction may also be raised — Biden’s son Hunter’s over unlawful firearm possession. Biden is sure to contrast his acceptance of his son’s verdict with Trump’s repeated attacks on the judicial system.
What issues will come up?
Trump has repeatedly — and effectively — hammered Biden on the economy and border security.
The latest Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll shows a majority of swing-state voters trust the Republican more on both issues. And the president’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war has angered young voters, particularly those of color.
Meanwhile, Biden will likely attack Trump over his role in removing federal protections for abortion and the GOP’s push to limit access to the procedure, even as a majority of Americans say it should be legal in all or most cases, a Pew Research Center survey shows.
Biden has also consistently cast Trump, who has mused about punishing his political enemies, as a threat to democracy.
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When is the next debate?
It will be months away — Sept. 10 — and will be hosted by ABC.
(Credit: Bloomberg)
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