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 is due to arrive on Wednesday in Atlanta (Georgia, southeast), where the duel organized by the CNN channel will be held, aboard his private plane nicknamed “Trump Force One”.

The nickname refers to the American presidential aircraft, “Air Force One”, which Joe Biden will take on Thursday.

The latter wants to prepare until the last minute. He has been holed up since Friday evening 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

According to a survey published Wednesday by Quinnipiac University, Donald Trump takes the advantage over Joe Biden for the first time with 49% of voting intentions against 45%, nationally. A poll published Sunday by the Fox channel, on the contrary, gave the Democrat in the lead, 50% to 48%.

At the same time, the Republican billionaire seems to hold the rope 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 is not speaking will be cut off on Thursday evening, to avoid the same fight as during the first debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden four years ago.

The octogenarian president, who has lost his physical presence and oral ease, will have to reassure an America that is put off by his age, although 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 to Atlanta “how he gets us back on track in terms of inflation, how he secures our southern border, how he puts an end to endless wars [dans le monde] and clean up our cities,” said Jason Miller.

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

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

The duel almost makes 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.