Countdown to the first debate between Biden and Trump

(Atlanta) The countdown is on before the first debate Thursday between US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump, the highlight of a presidential campaign as tense as it is uncertain.

The Republican will arrive Thursday in Atlanta, where the duel organized by the CNN channel will take place, aboard his private plane nicknamed “Trump Force One”.

The nickname refers to the American presidential plane, Air Force One, which Joe Biden will use.

The latter wants to prepare until the last minute, and has not appeared in public since Friday. He has taken refuge in the Camp David residence, near Washington, where, according to CNN, he participates in fictitious debates during which his personal lawyer plays the role of Donald Trump.

Neither the 81-year-old Democrat, the oldest president ever elected, nor the 78-year-old Republican, the first American head of state to be found guilty in criminal proceedings, are currently standing out in the polls.

Surveys

Donald Trump has for the first time taken the lead over Joe Biden with 49% of voting intentions against 45%, nationally, according to a survey published Wednesday by Quinnipiac University. A poll published Sunday by the Fox network, on the contrary, gave the Democrat the lead, at 50% against 48%.

At the same time, the Republican billionaire appears to be holding the lead in certain key states.

Each camp hopes that the hour and a half confrontation will make it possible to collect a few precious votes from the undecided.

The current president presents himself as a guarantor of democracy against a rival who never conceded defeat in 2020.

He released a new video on Wednesday opening with images of the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 by supporters of Donald Trump, in which a uniformed police officer says he has “no desire to work for anyone ‘one that divides’ the country.

The Democrats are counting on the contrast between a Joe Biden who is not very charismatic, but reasonable and competent, and a multi-indicted predecessor, temperamental and prone to false digressions.

Microphone cut

The meeting should be very tense, between two men who despise each other, but who have agreed on strict rules.

The microphone of the person who does not have the floor will be cut off Thursday evening, to avoid the same fistfight as during the first debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden four years ago.

The octogenarian president, who has lost his physical presence and his oral ease, will have to reassure an America that is put off by his age, even though he is only three years older than his opponent.

“In the media, many are already ready to give a trophy to Joe Biden if he manages to stand for 90 minutes,” said Jason Miller, one of the hosts of the Republican’s campaign, on Tuesday.

But he warned that Donald Trump will face a candidate on Thursday who will be “ready”.

The former president insinuates that his rival will be “doped” before appearing in front of the cameras.

Immigration and crime

Donald Trump wants to explain in Atlanta “how he’s getting us back on track in terms of inflation, how he’s securing our southern border, how he’s ending the endless wars (in the world) and cleaning up our cities,” said Jason Miller.

So far, this election pitting two radically different visions for America against each other has not generated overwhelming interest among voters.

But according to the Quinnipac survey already mentioned, 73% of Americans plan to watch Thursday night’s debate and 16% do not rule out the possibility that the show will change the way they vote.

The duel would almost make us forget that a third man, Robert Kennedy Jr, is in the race.

The independent candidate, who denounces his exclusion from the debate, has no chance of winning, but his participation further adds to the uncertainty of the election.

This nephew of the assassinated president “JFK” will organize a competing event on Thursday, in Los Angeles (California), which will be broadcast live on the X network.