ATLANTA, Georgia (Michigan News Source) – The upcoming 2024 presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, scheduled for Thursday, June 27th in Atlanta, Georgia on CNN, will introduce several new rules aimed at maintaining order and “fairness” throughout the event.
Debate time and broadcast details.
The debate starts at 9 P.M. EST and runs on the other networks as well – ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, MSNBC and more. It will run for 90 minutes and have two commercial breaks – something that the Commission on Presidential Debates, which oversaw debates for the last three decades, did not have.
Moderators and bias concerns.
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CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, pointed out by many as being clearly anti-Trump, will moderate the debate. Tapper had declared after Biden’s election win in 2020 that “for tens of millions of our fellow Americans: their long national nightmare is over.” He added in his monologue, “It’s been a time of extreme divisions, many of the divisions caused and exacerbated by President Trump himself. It’s been a time of several significant and utterly avoidable failures, most tragically, of course, the unwillingness to respect facts and science and do everything that could be done to save lives during a pandemic. It has been a time where truth and fact where truth and fact were treated with distain.”
Tapper went on to say, “It was a time of cruelty where official inhumanities such as child separation became the official shameful policy of the United States. But now the Trump presidency is coming to an end.”
Bash, Tapper’s fellow moderator, has also shown a clear bias against Trump and conservatives. In 2022, she defended Biden’s remark likening Republicans to “semi-fascists,” arguing he specifically targeted Trump supporters, a group comprising tens of millions of Americans. She also recently drew a parallel to Nazi Germany while criticizing Trump for his remarks on Jewish voters who support Democrats, denouncing his words as “antisemitic and highly perilous.”
Nevertheless, these are the moderators of the first presidential debate of the election cycle – a debate that marks a departure from traditional formats due to significant rule changes agreed upon by both campaigns even though many have said that most of the rules lean more favorably towards President Joe Biden.
New debate rules and format.
One of the most notable changes is the implementation of mic muting. Microphones will be muted when it is not a candidate’s turn to speak, a measure intended to minimize interruptions and allow for a more structured exchange of ideas. This adjustment, CNN says, comes in response to the chaotic interruptions witnessed in previous debates, particularly during the 2020 election cycle.
In another break from tradition, the debate will not feature a live audience, marking the first time since 1976 that a presidential debate will occur without an in-person crowd. CNN explains that the decision aims to reduce potential distractions and focus the discussion solely on the candidates and the issues at hand.
Structured exchanges and restrictions.
The format of the debate includes several other key provisions. There will be no opening statements from either candidate. Instead, each candidate will have two minutes to respond to questions posed by the moderators, followed by one-minute rebuttals and responses to rebuttals. Additionally, moderators will have an extra minute at their discretion for further probing or clarification. The debate will conclude with two-minute closing statements from each candidate.
The podium positions for Biden and Trump will be determined by a coin flip, and both candidates are prohibited from bringing pre-written notes or props onto the stage. They will only be provided with a pen, paper, and water. Furthermore, interactions between the candidates and their campaign staff will be restricted until the conclusion of the debate.
Early preparation strategies.
This debate, scheduled as the earliest in U.S. history without candidates officially accepting their party nominations, underscores the stakes involved as both campaigns prepare rigorously. President Biden, currently sequestered with advisors at Camp David, is honing his strategy to highlight policy differences and hold Trump accountable on various issues. His preparation includes mock debates and extensive briefing sessions led by seasoned advisors like his former Chief of Staff Ron Klain.
Meanwhile, former President Trump is also engaged in intense preparation, though his approach differs notably. According to a report from CNN, he is focusing on sharpening his rhetoric and reinforcing his policy positions with input from key allies and advisors. Trump’s preparation includes policy discussions with potential vice presidential picks and other allies, aiming to present a strong, decisive image amid ongoing legal challenges. He also won’t be holding any “mock debates” like Biden is according to published reports.
Kennedy’s exclusion and controversy.
The exclusion of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from the debate stage has sparked controversy, with Kennedy’s campaign alleging bias and legal violations against CNN and the participating candidates. Kennedy’s team argues that the debate criteria have been selectively applied, potentially violating federal campaign laws by excluding him despite meeting specific ballot requirements in multiple states.
Kennedy said in a statement about being excluded from the debate, “Presidents Biden and Trump do not want me on the debate stage and CNN illegally agreed to their demand. My exclusion by Presidents Biden and Trump from the debate is undemocratic, un-American, and cowardly. Americans want an independent leader who will break apart the two-party duopoly. They want a President who will heal the divide, restore the middle class, unwind the war machine, and end the chronic disease epidemic.”
Meanwhile, as Biden and Trump prepare for this pivotal debate, each campaign is keenly aware of the opportunity to sway undecided voters and solidify their support base. With millions of Americans expected to tune in, the debate could serve as a critical moment in shaping public perception and setting the tone for the remainder of the election season. Or, as some think, it won’t move the needle at all with most voters already dug in on their positions.
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