June 20th 2024.
The first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and ex-President Donald Trump is set to take place on June 27 in Atlanta. The anticipation for this highly anticipated event has been building, and now the podium standing positions and speaking order have been finalized. Despite the coin toss landing on tails, giving Biden's campaign the choice, Trump will still get the last word in the debate.
Biden's campaign chose the right podium position on the right side of the screen for CNN viewers, while Trump will be on the left. However, Trump's team was able to select the speaking order, meaning he will have the final closing statement. This is a reversal of their positions in the 2020 debates, where Biden stood on the right and Trump on the left.
It is unclear why Biden's campaign felt the podium position was more important, but based on Trump's past reaction to not having the final word in his hush money trial, it seems he may be pleased with the outcome. He expressed his frustration on his Truth Social platform, questioning why the defense can't go last and calling it a "witch hunt."
The debate, which will be hosted by CNN anchors Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, is expected to be a close one. In fact, current polls show Biden ahead by just 0.1%. Many incumbents have struggled in early debates, as they are often isolated from conflicting information while in office. This could give Trump an advantage, as he is now the ex-president.
The debate will run for 90 minutes with no audience in the studio. Both candidates will be barred from interacting with their campaign staff during this time. Microphones will be muted until it is a candidate's turn to speak, and pre-written statements and props are not allowed. Each candidate will be allowed to bring a pad of paper and a bottle of water to the podium.
This debate is not only significant because it is the first between an incumbent and an ex-president, but also because it is the earliest in modern US history. Both campaigns chose not to follow the schedule set by the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates. The second scheduled debate is set for September 10 and will be hosted by ABC.
As the first debate of the 2024 presidential election, the outcome could have a significant impact on the candidates' polling numbers. The stakes are high, and both Biden and Trump will undoubtedly be preparing rigorously for the event. But with the podium positions and speaking order now decided, the stage is set for what is sure to be an intense and historical debate.
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