Democrats aim to let Trump’s unfiltered style work in their favor during debate.
With the first Biden-Trump debate set for June 27, the Biden campaign anticipates it could reshape the dynamics of the race. Amid Trump’s recent legal battles and Biden’s struggles in battleground polls, Biden’s team views the debate as a chance to highlight differences in leadership styles and remind voters of Trump’s controversial presidency.
Democratic advisers hope Biden’s approach will contrast Trump’s often unfiltered statements, while Biden is expected to emphasize stability and past policy accomplishments. Many Democrats believe Biden could resonate with the same energy he showed during his March State of the Union address, with the debate format helping voters move past media narratives to a side-by-side comparison of the candidates.
Strategist Amanda Loveday, advising Biden’s PAC, hopes this debate will allow voters to “see [Trump and Biden] next to each other,” highlighting Trump’s rhetoric and Biden’s policy-driven messaging. Biden’s strategy will focus on drawing attention to Trump’s divisive stances and the January 6 Capitol attack, positioning himself as a steady leader in contrast to Trump’s unpredictability.
With Biden set for intense debate preparations upon his return from European visits, his team hopes this opportunity to engage directly with Trump will reinforce their messaging and bolster Biden’s appeal across key demographics. Republican pollster Frank Luntz anticipates this to be a “critical debate,” comparing it to the historic JFK-Nixon faceoff, as voters will assess both candidates under the spotlight.
While Biden’s campaign has invested in ads critiquing Trump on issues from reproductive rights to economic policy, the debate stage may prove to be the critical platform for Biden to directly counter Trump’s claims and highlight his own leadership amidst current challenges.
