The 2024 general election campaign begins in earnest tonight with the first of two scheduled debates between President Biden and former President Donald Trump.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When and where will the debate take place?
The 90-minute battle will be hosted by CNN from its Atlanta studios. The debate will begin at 9 pm ET and will include two commercial breaks. According to the network.
How can I watch it?
The debate will air on CNN, CNN en Espanol, CNN International, CNN Max and HLN and will be available to watch via live streaming without a cable TV login. CNN.comCNN connected TV and mobile apps.
The debate will also be simulcast on several other networks, including ABC News, CBS News, C-SPAN, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, NBC News, Newsmax, NewsNation, Noticias Telemundo, OAN, PBS, Scripps News and Spectrum News.
Starting Friday, the debate will be available on demand for pay-TV subscribers. CNN.comthe CNN app and cable operator platforms.
Who will be hosting?
“State of the Union” co-hosts Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the debate and question the candidates on a variety of topics.
This will be the first time that both Tapper, 55, and Bash, 53, will host a general election debate. Other CNN personalities who have hosted the debate include Bernard Shaw (1988 second debate, 2000 vice presidential debate), Candy Crowley (2012 second debate) and Anderson Cooper (2016 second debate, co-hosted with ABC News’ Martha Raddatz).
What are the rules and format of the debate?
The Biden campaign laid out a series of demands early in negotiations with the Trump campaign about potentially hosting a debate outside the purview of the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has hosted every general election forum since 1988.
Trump quickly agreed to the demands, which included no studio audience and turning off the microphones when the candidates’ speaking time was up.
Candidates are not allowed to take notes on stage or research the campaign during breaks, and are provided with paper, pens and bottles of water.
A coin toss determined that Biden would stand on the podium to the right of where television viewers would view the debate stage.
The same shift means the Trump campaign will choose the order of closing statements, with the former president speaking last.
How did the candidates qualify?
Both Biden and Trump entered the CNN debate having met minimum polling and voter turnout thresholds.
The network required a candidate to appear on the ballot in enough states to win the candidate’s 270 electoral votes and “receive at least 15 percent support in four national polls of registered or likely voters that meet CNN’s coverage standards.”
Third-party candidates, including Independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Independent Cornel West and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, did not meet the requirements.
Kennedy came closest, but did not receive enough votes to meet the 270 electoral vote threshold.
How did the candidates prepare?
Biden was at Camp David last week to prepare for the debate and received private advice from aides at the presidential residence in western Maryland.
of The New York Times Preparations, reported on Monday, included converting a local airplane hangar and movie theater into a debate stage and enlisting key allies, including former White House chief of staff Ron Klain and Biden’s personal lawyer Bob Bauer, to hone the presidential skills, with Biden playing the role of Trump during practice sessions.
Trump’s team told The Washington Post this week that Trump had opted for a “policy debate” instead of a full-scale debate rehearsal.
Advisers to the 45th president include Senators J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan, former White House officials Stephen Miller and Kellyanne Conway, and former acting director of National Intelligence Rick Grenell. POLITICO report.
Who will support a candidate in a debate?
There will be no audience in the studio, so the candidates’ supporters and closest allies will likely join them in the spin room afterwards.
Biden will be accompanied by first lady Jill Biden, and Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), who is rumored to be one of the leading candidates to be Trump’s vice presidential nominee, is also scheduled to attend in support of the former president.
The other vice presidential candidates are scheduled to attend a debate viewing party in Atlanta hosted by the Republican National Committee and billionaire former Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and her husband, Jeff Sprecher.
Among those rumored to be on the shortlist for Trump’s running mate are Rubio, Vance and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, all of whom are expected to attend the viewing party, according to invitations obtained by The Washington Post.
The Biden campaign has also hired several surrogates to attack Trump’s performance leading up to the debate, including former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), former Georgia Republican Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia).
