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Experts Handicap the Trump-Biden Debate
WSJ ^ | June 19, 2024 4:50 pm ET | Karl Rove

Posted on 06/19/2024 6:30:46 PM PDT by conservative98

Joe Biden and Donald Trump will enter CNN’s Atlanta studio next Thursday for the most important 90 minutes of this election season. What they say, the impressions they leave, their confrontations, mistakes and humanizing moments could determine who wins in November.

[cut]

To understand what each camp faces, I talked with five Republicans and three Democrats who have helped presidential candidates with debates, from role-playing opponents and critiquing prep sessions to spinning the press after the studio lights were cut.

Everyone agreed that both candidates face tests of self-awareness and impulse control. Mr. Biden must demonstrate sustained mental acuity. He can’t freeze, stare blankly or sound befuddled. Mr. Trump can’t come off as unhinged or enraged. The words “rigged election” shouldn’t pass his lips. He has to keep his cool and can’t make it all about himself.

[cut]

The experts I interviewed agreed that Mr. Trump should make the election a referendum on Mr. Biden’s four years while Mr. Biden should make it a choice between the stability he’ll provide and Mr. Trump’s chaos.

Mr. Trump has the easier task of validating the public’s feelings of discontent. He can hammer the cost of living, the border crisis and the decline of public safety in many American cities. Voters already think Mr. Trump is better at handling these issues. The former president should spend as much time on what he’ll do in his second term as on Mr. Biden’s failings.

Experts cautioned that Mr. Trump shouldn’t overhype issues, such as by blaming Mr. Biden for Americans getting killed by illegal migrants, an argument that can easily be turned back against him. All it takes is one such victim on Mr. Trump’s watch for Mr. Biden to flip the issue on him and muddy the waters.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: biden; debates; january6; karlrove; stayoutdabushes; trump
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To: MinorityRepublican

>>”Trump is a hot head too. Just saying”

Trump is Trump. People know what their getting with him. Some love it and some hate it. But Biden’s not supposed to be like Trump. He’s supposed to be the adult in the room. I know. Ridiculous, isn’t it? But that’s the lie they need sell in order to sustain the “Trump is unhinged” narrative. Biden can’t afford to lose his temper. Trump has less to lose if he loses his temper. But he’ll be better off if he keeps his cool. The contrast between a calm Trump and an unhinged Biden will shock a lot of low information voters who have bought into the left’s false characterizations of the two men.


41 posted on 06/19/2024 8:11:55 PM PDT by mbrfl
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To: conservative98

The White House pharmacist (and CNN’s Rat Party operatives) will determine how well The Big Guy does.


42 posted on 06/19/2024 8:12:19 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Never Trust A Man Whose Uncle Was Eaten By Cannibals)
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To: kvanbrunt2

Trump just needs to be prepared to pivot, depending on which Joe shows up for the debate - Slow Joe or Angry Joe. There’s a strategy for dealing with either one.


43 posted on 06/19/2024 8:14:23 PM PDT by mbrfl
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To: BobL

Yeah, no. Not feeling well will make the case for the Democratic it is Trump that isn’t well enough for office.
Think, people!


44 posted on 06/19/2024 8:24:27 PM PDT by RedMonqey (This is no longer America but "Amerika"!)
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To: RedMonqey

Naa, OBVIOUSLY the idea for the early debate has something to do with Biden...time to SCREW UP their plans.


45 posted on 06/19/2024 8:26:56 PM PDT by BobL
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To: RckyRaCoCo

This is all Trump. He said during the 2016 campaign in the Republican primary when it seemed like the plan was to play delegate games, “You got to knock them out”. His thinking is he has to win this and can’t wait for Biden to lose. I agree but Trump better take his own advice snd not assume Biden won’t have his A game. He can win it here. He can also lose it.


46 posted on 06/19/2024 8:27:35 PM PDT by wiseprince (Me)
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To: mbrfl
Trump is Trump.

Worked in 2016. But that's because he ran against Hillary. Enough said.

47 posted on 06/19/2024 8:28:19 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: Leaning Right

“Along those same lines I must call Trump the Very Naive Debater.”

Trump has a high opinion of his debate skills. Calling “Sleepy Joe” or”Crooked Joe” all night gets stale with the undecided voters when he needs to explain why his policies are better than Biden’s.


48 posted on 06/19/2024 8:29:35 PM PDT by RedMonqey (This is no longer America but "Amerika"!)
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To: conservative98

If i were Trump i would just say and repeat the sentence and not really debate or answer questions from the pres. “I did this ...” and i did a good job . I’ll do this ... vote for me.”


49 posted on 06/19/2024 8:30:40 PM PDT by kvanbrunt2
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To: conservative98
I cannot see any benefits to Trump in this farce of a debate. Nor can I see any help from the "advice" of the so-called experts. These events are run by Democrats for the promotion of Democrats. They are structured to make Democrats look good and Republicans look bad. Those are the "rules", and it never changes. Republicans never learn from the experience.

Of course, Biden will get softball questions to which he has pre-written answers.

I would give odds that Trump will be cut off at the microphone during his turn to speak if he says anything too critical about Biden or the Democrats. The moderators will justify this because Trump is "off topic", or "making personal attacks". Naturally, Biden will not be held to any such standard.

Perhaps Biden will expire on stage from an overdose of the amphetamine cocktails they keep giving him so he can make public appearances. That is the only way I can see Trump "winning" this debate.

And then the Democrats might actually find someone competent as a replacement candidate. Though even that hardly matters. What counts is who and what will be counting the ballots. And who can control the police and military forces afterwards.

We are winding down to the last few episodes of the "Our Democracy Show" before it gets cancelled. I am unsure what the replacement series will be.

50 posted on 06/19/2024 8:37:42 PM PDT by flamberge (It turns out that you can fool most of the people, most of the time.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

>>Worked in 2016. But that’s because he ran against Hillary. Enough said.

And now he’s running against Biden. Enough said.


51 posted on 06/19/2024 8:38:49 PM PDT by mbrfl
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To: SecondAmendment

I find it very ominous that Trump’s “hush money” conviction sentencing is overdue, and I think they will throw him in jail for the next few months at least by this weekend.
*************************
It’s not overdue. It’s scheduled for the 11th of July.


52 posted on 06/19/2024 8:40:28 PM PDT by sunny bonobo
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To: MinorityRepublican

Trump won the 2020 2nd Debate that way.


53 posted on 06/19/2024 8:43:46 PM PDT by cowboyusa (YESHUA IS KING AMERICA, AND HE WILL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE HIM!)
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To: RedMonqey

Undecided voters?

How can someone capable of critical thought, be undecided at this late stage of the game?

It’s my opinion if you support Biden and that crowd, you’re either mentally ill, or you supporting further destruction of the United States. It’s that simple.


54 posted on 06/19/2024 8:46:59 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: cowboyusa
Trump won the 2020 2nd Debate that way.

On the radio, everyone said that Richard Nixon won the debate in 1960. But it was a different story on tv.

So that's your answer.

55 posted on 06/19/2024 8:51:53 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: conservative98
"Experts Handicap the Trump-Biden Debate"

Biden will spend much of his time trying to provoke an angry outburst from Trump, and the moderators will be helping him. Whether or not gets his facts correctly or coherently will be irrelevant. Joe will be too doped up to get angry and if the medications make him flatline no one will notice any change in his demeaner.
56 posted on 06/19/2024 9:06:23 PM PDT by clearcarbon (Fraudulent elections have consequences.)
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To: Nervous Tick

Unfortunately, there are LOTS of people who believe the MSM, the DNC, and the Deep State.


57 posted on 06/19/2024 9:11:19 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward Snowden)
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To: MinorityRepublican

That’s all changed. Everything is video now.

Tens of millions have already seen Biden as an old man who’s brain didn’t age well. It’s painfully obvious. Not to mention the physical side, where most of America have watched this guy fall to the ground, over and over and over.☺

If it’s all about appearance, Trump KO’s Bidon when he walks on stage.


58 posted on 06/19/2024 9:13:14 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dragnet2

They say the same about us.


59 posted on 06/19/2024 9:14:32 PM PDT by nwrep
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Well you can write them off permanently. If they haven’t figured out by now what’s going on at this late stage, they never will. And the side peddling America last, America bad, big gov good, control and tax their every move, they’re a write off as well.

Very few of these people would ever change their mind. Everyone knows who the players are this time. Everyone is quite familiar with them.

The lines are pretty much drawn in my estimation.


60 posted on 06/19/2024 9:25:52 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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