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Longtime Republican pollster Frank Luntz has advised President Biden and former President Trump to “go all out” in the upcoming debates to make a big impression on voters.
Luntz discussed what to watch for in Thursday’s presidential debate on CNN on Monday, reflecting on his observations of past presidential debates. The New York TimesHe said viewers want to see “passion, energy and even anger in the service of the good of the country.”
“A restrained Trump and a grown-up Biden would not be remembered the way Trump was.” [John] Kelly and Mr. [John] “McCain was not memorable. With so much at stake, both candidates need to let their guard down in order to make a lasting impression, but not in a way that alienates important groups like suburban women and swing voters,” he wrote.
“In the end, it’s not about the facts, the policies or the advantages Biden and Trump demonstrated in the debates — it’s about how they make voters feel,” Luntz said.
Biden and Trump have been preparing in recent days for their first debate since the 2020 election, with Biden at Camp David with aides and Trump meeting with lawmakers to discuss policy areas.
Luntz, the focus group moderator, wrote that the “greatest impact” the candidates would have in a debate would be to “attack each other in crucial ways and undermine the political case that each wants to make to the American people.”
He spoke of a key moment when former President Reagan asked: “Is it better than it was four years ago?” Or that Trump’s 2016 remark to Hillary Clinton that she would “go to jail” if he won could make “meaningful change.”
He writes that expectations about a candidate’s performance also influence audience perceptions.
“This week could be one of the most significant debates since Kennedy and Richard Nixon, and expectations are already high for Trump, who has challenged Biden to debate whenever and wherever he wants. It’s entirely possible that Trump will regret issuing such a public challenge, and that Biden may regret accepting the offer,” Luntz said.
