Biden – Trump, a presidential debate that discusses the personal over the political

Thursday 27.6.2024

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Last update 6:31

This Thursday, June 27, at 10 p.m. (Argentine time), the first presidential debate will be held ahead of the November 5 elections in the United States, the 35th in its history. The 36th will be on September 10.

The current president, Joe Biden, and the former president during the 2016-2020 period, Donald Trump, will face each other in Atlanta and with the transmission of the American CNN signal, visible on some Argentine cable operators, but which can also be followed through from the official YouTube channel.

For about 90 minutes and with particular regulations, those elected from the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, the latter with certain questions in the procedure, will kick off one of the most relevant elections for the political context worldwide.

Whether at the presidential, provincial or municipal level, questions are growing around the world regarding the relevance or influence of debates between candidates for political office.

The Biden – Trump duel does not escape this concept, mainly because it occurs in an already crudely polarized scenario and with knowledge of both of their agendas. Even with the background of the 2020 campaign.

CNN itself, the network in charge of a television broadcast that in its last edition obtained an audience of approximately 63 million people, emphasizes the idea that it will not have an impact on the voters’ choice.

CNN’s Ronald Brownstein quotes UCLA political scientist Lynn Vavreck as saying she “expects that, as with previous debates, this year’s meetings will have at most a modest effect on voter preferences.”

A paper by Vincent Pons, an associate professor at Harvard Business School, and graduate student Caroline Le Pennec of the University of California at Berkeley, analyzes 62 elections in 10 countries since 1952 and reaches similar conclusions.

In the specific American case, Pons and Le Pennec take 56 television debates from 31 elections of different scope and that the debates did not help undecided voters make a decision nor did they make those who had already made a decision change candidates. “If you look at the number of people who watch the television debates and all the media attention surrounding the debates, you would think that the debates matter,” says Pons, later commenting that they were surprised to find opposite results. .

With more or less influence, the role of this specific Thursday night debate falls on personal and physical aspects of the protagonists, rather than on specific political elements. The panorama lends itself even more to the show.

Crossing borders, this day captures attention not only because it is one of the most influential nations in the world, but also begins an eventual process of change in the structure of NATO, greater restrictions on Latin American immigration and defunding. to Ukraine, in case the former television host succeeds and fulfills his promises.

The conversational show is presented with tools that both cases appeal to personal dramas or the physical condition of the candidates.

President Biden could be attacked mainly because of his health. At 81 years old, he has generated concern in various public appearances by appearing disoriented or providing incoherent statements. Ronny Jackson, former White House doctor, demanded in recent days that he be given a drug test before the debate. The presidency’s official annual exams have only indicated a mild hip ailment.

So far, Trump has commented on Biden’s health through ridicule in his speeches. Never in front of his opponent’s face.

The case of Hunter Biden, the candidate’s son who was found guilty of weapons possession and continues to be investigated, could also come to light. The drama of borders and uncontrolled immigration is probably the strongest political focus of the discussion.

On Trump’s side, who is 78 years old and is not a young figure either, the inevitable point of attack will be his conviction for 34 felonies in the New York trial for falsifying records in the payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels.

The word “criminal” could be heard alongside the “threat to democracy” due to allegations of fraud in 2020. Trump’s communications team claims that the court cases have only increased his popularity and campaign revenue.

Support for Texas, degradation of women’s reproductive rights and the promotion of abortion restrictions are other of the Republican’s weak points.

The two candidates rejected the Commission on Presidential Debates of the United States and chose CNN as the leader of the debate, which is why they are in charge of the official broadcast. Warner Bros. gave him the rights to other signals, but with the CNN logo and comments.

The discussion will last about 90 minutes and will have two advertising breaks, the only time in which you will be able to talk with your team. They will not have a teleprompter or written guides, but they will be able to make their own notes during the hour and a half.

With Biden on the left and Trump on the right, the current president will always begin to speak. Unlike in 2016, they will be in front of a lectern and will not be able to move around the stage. In 2020 this format was used, but forced due to health restrictions due to Covid-19.

Two relevant factors motivated by the indiscipline of those present: there will be no publicity in the place and the microphones will be silenced out of turn. The themes were not made public nor will a data check be carried out in real time.