President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden squared off in their final presidential debate Thursday night, less than two weeks before Election Day.
Trump, while restraining himself from the verbal rampage he subjected the audience to during the first debate, gave a very Trumpian performance: lots of hard-to-follow conspiracy theories, and heretofore unfulfilled promises about health care plans. Biden largely dismissed Trump’s confusing accusations about his son, Hunter Biden, and had a chance to talk about his plans for multiple uninterrupted minutes.
While the night doesn’t immediately seem like a needle-mover (which is bad news for Trump), both candidates got a chance to deliver the closing arguments of their campaigns. For Biden, it was a promise to rebuild the country and a vow to restore “the soul of the nation.” For Trump, it was accusations that the Biden family is a “criminal enterprise” that can’t be trusted.
Follow along with the TPM staff below:
Watch Live
President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden squared off in their final presidential debate Thursday night, less than two weeks before Election Day.
Trump, while restraining himself from the verbal rampage he subjected the audience to during the first debate, gave a very Trumpian performance: lots of hard-to-follow conspiracy theories, and heretofore unfulfilled promises about health care plans. Biden largely dismissed Trump’s confusing accusations about his son, Hunter Biden, and had a chance to talk about his plans for multiple uninterrupted minutes.
While the night doesn’t immediately seem like a needle-mover (which is bad news for Trump), both candidates got a chance to deliver the closing arguments of their campaigns. For Biden, it was a promise to rebuild the country and a vow to restore “the soul of the nation.” For Trump, it was accusations that the Biden family is a “criminal enterprise” that can’t be trusted.
Follow along with the TPM staff below:
So Fox says Trump is bringing Hunter’s old business partner to the debate. Today the partner released some texts that point to him possibly having lunch with Joe, Jim, and Hunter Biden.
This is the latest smoking gun. Biden’s ex business partner might have had lunch with the Biden men.
Um, Biden spars, Trump acts like his typical asshole bully self.
Count on it…
If Trump was actually smart this would be what he will bring… in case they shut his mic off
I still think it’s even odds that Trump pulls out, or that he refuses to show a negative COVID test and the debate gets cancelled over it. If Trump does appear, you can bet that he will be screaming as loudly as he can when his mike is off, in an effort to distract Biden…hopefully we will be able to see him trying that, so it doesn’t look like Biden is wobbling through his statements. You can also count on lots of distraction, lies, and refusal to answer any questions…and if Welker really goes at Trump over some point he will attack her and just might stalk off. It’s all about dominance for Trump, he just doesn’t realize that it’s a losing play for him.
As for Biden, he’s really been on top of his game the past few weeks, very disciplined and on message, and the town hall last week showed that he knows all about his plans and lots of details. He needs to remain focused tonight, stand up to Trump, and not get angry when Trump attacks Hunter again. If anything, he needs to take on some of Obama’s attitude from his speech yesterday…the incredulousness that Trump has failed America so badly, and the anger over the cost, is very effective and Trump won’t handle it well.
I predict Biden will win on the facts and empathy, Trump will again be a raging asshole disconnected from the truth, and it won’t do anything to help Trump’s campaign. The last is the important factor, Trump has to do something to change the narrative in order to cut into Biden’s polling advantage, and attacking Hunter and being his usual self will not do it. Some people will make up their minds after this debate, and if Trump does the same thing from two weeks ago I bet most of them choose Biden.
I’m only watching for trumpp’s WWE moments which promise to be pretty over the top. He’s got nothing left except to try to personally indict Biden on stage over Huntergate hoping America will buy it and he can put it in the headlines.