2024 Presidential Election

Tonight’s debate: everything you need to know.

CNN will be airing the first presidential debate of the cycle and it could be totally pivotal or have no effect. Here is everything you need to know.

Tonight, in Atlanta, Biden and Trump will face off face to face for the first time since 2020, debates are a key part of any election cycle and while this is an unusual election cycle it will still be an interesting 90 minutes. I’ve collated everything you could want to know along with some analysis, you can scroll for what you need or just go through it all.

When? & Where?

The debate will be held in CNN’s studio in atlanta, the state capital and largest city of a key swing state: Georgia. It will begin at 9PM Eastern Time and 6PM on the West coast, tonight (June 27th), it will last for 90 minutes and there will be two commercial breaks in which candidates will not be allowed to talk to campaign staff. You can watch it on cable TV, MAX or the CNN website for free, here: https://edition.cnn.com/politics however i will have an article analysing the events of the debate this weekend so follow if you’d like to read it.

A frame from the 2020 Presidential debate (From: CNN)

Who?

CNN’s debate rules state that candidates must meet the following four requirements:

1. Comply with the requirements of Article 2 Section 1 of the US constitution, which are: you must be older than 35, a natural born citizen and a resident for 14 years.
2. All candidates must file with the FEC
3. Candidates must appear on enough state’s ballots to reach 270 potential electoral college votes
4. Candidates must reach at least 15% on four separate polls of registered or likely voters which meet CNNs requirements.

This is where each candidate lies in each requirement the deadline to meet them was last Thursday, the 20th of June:

Only Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden qualified.

Robert F Kennedy Jr has claimed that CNN, Democrats and Republicans have conspired to keep him out of the debate. He has also recorded an interview with Doctor Phil which is set to air during the debate.

The debate will be hosted by CNN’s Dana Bash and Jake Tapper.

Qualified polls are defined by CNN as any poll sponsored by the following: CNN, ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, Marquette University Law School, Monmouth University, NBC News, The New York Times/Siena College, NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist College, Quinnipiac University, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

What are the rules?

1. Mics will be muted unless a candidate is answering the question.
2. No props or pre written notes may be brought in.
3. The podium placement will be decided by a coin flip.
4. Campaign staff may not interact with a candidate during the commercial breaks.
5. There will be no studio audience.

Biden won the coin toss and decided his podium position.

Candidates will be provided with a pad of paper, a pen and a bottle of water. CNN has said the moderators “will use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion”.

Analysis & Predictions

Trump thrives on the energy of the crowd, when he attended the libertarian party conference, during a speech the crowd began to boo him and he subsequently began insulting the crowd and it’s party. In a way the lack of a crowd could help him as the crowd can’t hurt him with a lack of enthusiasm but it also can’t energise and encourage him when he insults or name-calls. The more strict debate rules will stifle Trump’s debate strategy which arguably catapulted him into his political fame back in 2016. His abrasive interrupting and yelling with a cheering crowd is part of his political brand so suppressing that will interfere with his success in this debates, contrasting that of 2016 & 2020.

A photo of a CNN presidential debate billboard (From: CNN)

Both candidates have been known to have issues when speaking like forgetting the name of a person, replacing it with a completely different one, long pauses and seeming gaps in conscience. The 90 minute length could worsen any deep neurological issues which, as both candidates are quite old, cannot be ruled out. However both Biden and Trump have survived extended speeches in the past. Any slow down or issue from either candidate will be repeatedly scrutinised by the other side and the media.

I could also see, if the debate goes horribly for Trump, him announcing his VP pick early just to divert the media attention. He has said he’s ready to go and waiting for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this July.

My final predictions are that there will be no overarching victor but Biden will have a slight edge. There will be a handful of clips going semi-viral where trump is speaking and there is no or minimal sound as his mic was muted, subsequently the more radical right wing media will heavily criticise CNN for muting microphones. I don’t think either candidates will have any mental blocks or major issues, both will have been preparing for a long time and know the stakes so will have taken every possible measure to prevent it. However I think the more radical wings of the media will be hyper analysing and focusing on largely fictionalised mental issues and memory lapses from both candidates.

If you liked this article you may like my other articles on the 2024 election, like: The Republican party’s fatal national miscalculation. or RFK Jr can’t seem to decide if he is a real candidate. If you liked or were at least intrigued by my writing consider following or see more stories of mine below. All support is appreciated and of course, happy debate day.