Debate in Atlanta.
Signage for the upcoming presidential debate is seen at the CNN Techwood campus in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
All eyes will be on Atlanta tomorrow evening for the first debate between the two presumptive nominees for president. The debate is being produced and hosted by CNN.
This debate, like so many things about this 2024 presidential race, marks a first. It’s the first time that the candidates have debated prior to the party conventions. The Republican National Convention is set to kick off in Milwaukee July 15. The Democrats convene starting August 19 in Chicago.
Speaking of firsts. This will be the first time that a convicted felon has appeared in a presidential debate. Former president Trump was found guilty by a New York City jury in May on 34 felony counts in connection with payments that he made to former adult film actress Stormy Daniels. He faces sentencing on that conviction two weeks from tomorrow in New York.
The pundit class seems about evenly divided as to whether President Biden will bring up Trump’s conviction during the debate.
The rules for this debate are different from the debates of the recent past. There will be no audience. The microphones for each of the candidates will be turned off when their response times have expired – making it difficult for each to interrupt the other.
Donald Trump is walking into what his campaign believes to be enemy territory. CNN has been historically critical in its coverage of Donald Trump. Jake Tapper, who will be sharing moderating duties with his CNN colleague Dana Bash, has been particularly critical.
Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to make that point in a segment on CNN earlier this week where she was being interviewed by Kasie Hunt. Here is what happened.
KAROLINE LEAVITT: It would take someone five minutes to Google Jake Tapper – Donald Trump to see that Jake Tapper has consistently frequently likened President Trump to Adolf Hitler.
KASIE HUNT: Ma’am, I’m going to stop this interview if you continue to attack my colleagues.
LEAVITT: I am stating facts that your colleagues have stated in the past.
HUNT: OK, I’m sorry guys, we’re going to come back out to the panel. Karoline, thank you very much for your time.”
But last night on the Ingraham Angle on the FOX News Channel, guest host Kayleigh McEnany aired this montage of Jake Tapper talking about Donald Trump.
JAKE TAPPER: President Trump lives in an atmosphere of disinformation.
TAPPER: The Trump presidency is coming to an end. For tens of millions of our fellow Americans, their long national nightmare is over.
TAPPER: The dehumanizing rhetoric of Adolf Hitler is alive and well, this time given life by former president and current Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump.”
Expectations for this debate are extremely high. It is expected to draw a huge audience. Will President Biden be able to express himself cogently and be sharp for the full 90 minutes? Will Donald Trump be combative or respectful?
The debate is hosted by CNN but is being simulcast by all the major networks including the FOX News Channel. KTBB will have the debate beginning at 7:55 tomorrow evening.
