The Republican and Democratic National conventions have yet to take place, but already the first debate between the presumptive nominees of each party – Incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump — is scheduled for Thursday.
Here are three key questions for the debate that will be moderated by CNN and at the network’s Atlanta studios.
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1. Why is it so early?
Usually, the first presidential debate occurs after each party has had their convention in July and August. By comparison, the first debate between Biden and Trump in 2020 took place in late September.
According to the Hill, the Biden campaigned proposed the earlier debate because Trump’s money trial would end and Biden would be home from a Group of Seven summit in Europe.
2. What will format be?
There will be differences from previous debate formats, including:
- Neither candidate will deliver an opening statement.
- Neither candidate will be allowed to bring prewritten notes or props.
- The microphones of both candidates will be muted when it isn’t their turn to speak.
- No audience will be present.
The debate will last roughly 90 minutes. Each candidate will get two minutes each for initial answers, one minute for rebuttals, and another minute for responses to those rebuttals, according to Politico.
3. Why is this debate so important?
Not only are the candidates very close in the polls, but this will be only one of two debates before November’s general election. The other is scheduled for Sept. 10.
Other than that second debate, there might not be a bigger platform for the candidates to tout their agendas, poke holes in the candidacy of the other and try and make an impression on undecided voters.