News Brief
Kuldeep Negi
Jun 27, 2024, 10:25 AM | Updated 01:12 PM IST
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President Joe Biden will debate former President Donald Trump on Thursday (27 June) night, giving Biden a chance to reassure Americans that he can handle another four years in office.
Both candidates are facing scrutiny over their age and physical condition, but focus would more on Biden.
A strong performance from Biden could redirect voter focus to policy issues and reduce concerns about his age.
However, a weak showing might hamper fundraising efforts and boost Trump's position in the polls.
Recent polls by Reuters-Ipsos show that mental fitness is a key concern for undecided voters, with more worry directed at Biden And Trump To Face Off In High-Stakes Presidential Debate Today Amid Age Concerns — All About It
Another poll revealed that 78 percent of respondents, including 71 percent of Democrats, think Biden is too old for government work.
In comparison, 53 percent believe Trump is too old.
Biden's age has been a target for political opponents and conservative media, who often use video clips to portray him as frail.
The White House & Biden's campaign have tried to counter these portrayals but with limited success.
To prepare for the debate, Biden has spent nearly a week at Camp David with top advisers.
His goal is to present himself as a wise and steady leader with a successful track record, in contrast to Trump's often chaotic presidency, and to highlight differences on issues like abortion rights, democratic norms, and fiscal policy.
The debate will take place at a CNN studio in Atlanta without an audience, and participants are not allowed to bring pre-written notes.
Kuldeep is Senior Editor (Newsroom) at Swarajya. He tweets at @kaydnegi.