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One praised himself above all else and often seemed offended, the other argued well thought out and well prepared: four findings from the first television debate in the US election campaign between Trump and Biden.
By Katrin Brand, ARD Studio Washington
Donald Trump and Joe Biden have their first television debate behind them: 94 minutes, moderated by Fox journalist Chris Wallace. It was about Covid-19, the economy, the Supreme Court, and other topics. There was a lot of confusion, mainly because the president did not want to remember the arrangement of the “excuses”.
We learned that from the first television match:
The incumbent president always looks bad
Clearly, Donald Trump hadn’t prepared for tonight and probably thought he could fully rely on his spontaneity and aggressiveness. Could not. Because, old rule: the incumbent president is always in a worse position in the debate. You must be responsible for your mandate. Simply put, Trump’s bottom line sounded like this: He created the “greatest economy of all time,” but unfortunately a pandemic intervened. And anyway, China is to blame.
Trump barely paused in the discussions. He tried to run over Joe Biden, surprise him, somehow catch him in a moment of weakness, and bring him to his knees. Tried the same with the moderator. If he was withdrawn, he seemed offended.
The president acted more like he was the challenger. He did not function as president. And not appropriate to the situation in the country.
Biden knew where the camera was
However, the former vice president had prepared himself for the debate. He didn’t want to be provoked by Trump and pulled into his vortex because that would have put him on the defensive. That worked quite well. Biden had also practiced something that would allow him to get out of the internal fight. Again and again he turned away from Trump, looked at the camera and addressed the audience directly: “Folks, you don’t even know what you’re talking about.” In doing so, he tied up the Americans and made them his allies against the bully who constantly interrupted him.
But that the challenger called the incumbent president a clown and a liar and at some point even called him “Shut up!” (“Could you shut up!”), That scared the viewer after all.
A strong moment: when Biden approached the end with the request “Choose, choose, choose!” he turned to his compatriots.
Everybody breathe out again: Biden persevered
Democrats must have been quite nervous that night: Would their 77-year-old candidate hold out? In pre-election debates, Biden had always seemed absent or nervous, but again very to the point. Trump then suspected that Biden was taking some stimulants and requested a drug test.
But on the one hand, the issue was not raised, on the other hand, Biden gave no cause for concern. The former vice president seemed focused, hardly confused, and generally in a better mood than the president, who often seemed offended. As Trump’s face grew redder and brighter, Biden stayed cool and at the end of 94 minutes made a fresher impression than Trump three years younger.
Does the United States know what the next president represents?
Donald Trump also couldn’t explain what his health insurance plan is like this time. He believes he did the right thing in the Corona crisis and that now is the time to rebuild the “largest economy in the world.” He did not want to confirm that climate change is a man-made thing, but sees clean air and water as important goals.
If Trump ever decided to target African American voters, he has changed his mind. He reduced the subject of racism to “Law and order”, that is, to the announcement that the violent protests would end. This time, too, he did not speak the names of the blacks killed by police violence and was unable to distance himself from the thugs on the right.
Joe Biden was a bit confused when he was supposed to explain his climate policy, but had otherwise thought of a few statements on each topic. That seemed very well thought out and orderly, even if he didn’t have time for a more detailed look at tax or health policies, on the one hand, because Trump was constantly interrupting him, on the other hand, because moderator Chris Wallace really didn’t care about the content. talk.
Biden’s message that he was the adult in the room should have been well received by his followers. Trump supporters, in turn, have likely enjoyed his aggressiveness.
Comment from a TV host: Everyone needs a drink now, albeit for different reasons.
