The Washington Examiner’s Sarah Bedford suggested voters will be primarily watching Thursday’s presidential debate for President Joe Biden’s cognitive performance and former President Donald Trump’s display of character.
“I think that most voters tuning in, especially independents who haven’t quite made up their mind, are not necessarily going to be looking at the substance of what the candidates are saying but there are stylistic concerns about both of them,” Bedford told Your World with Neil Cavuto. “The threshold concerns that independents have about Joe Biden are cognitive. Is he up to doing the job of president for four more years? Can he stand there for two hours and get out sentences frankly?”
“And for Donald Trump, voters have character concerns. Is he going to be a bully? Is he going to yell insults at Joe Biden? Or is he just going to speak in a calm voice and address the issues that they care about the most?” she continued. “So, I do think the substance of what’s going to be talked about tomorrow night is secondary to people watching for just how these two men behave and whether these two men end up feeding into narratives about their worst qualities.”
Bedford noted, however, that Biden’s “biggest policy vulnerability” is immigration and border security, perhaps even more so than the economy.
“There is no issue that Donald Trump is more closely associated with than border security and toughness on the border,” Bedford said. “There’s really no debating the fact that Joe Biden’s policies proceeded this unprecedented border crisis, and so Donald Trump doesn’t have to do much to highlight that reality. And most voters already have that baked into their perceptions of the two candidates.”
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In the last 10 days, interest in the economy, abortion, and LGBT issues has dipped, while online searches about immigration, minimum wage, and race have increased.
The first 2024 presidential debate will air Thursday on CNN at 9 p.m.
