2020 Candidates Engage In Intense Debate Prep As Big Night Looms

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Republican vice presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) (R) participate in the vice presidential debate at Centre College October 11, 2012 in Danville, Kentucky.  This is the second of four debates during the presidential election season and the only debate between the vice presidential candidates before the closely-contested election November 6.
DANVILLE, KY - OCTOBER 11: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the vice presidential debate at Centre College October 11, 2012 in Danville, Kentucky. This is the second of four debates during the presidenti... DANVILLE, KY - OCTOBER 11: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the vice presidential debate at Centre College October 11, 2012 in Danville, Kentucky. This is the second of four debates during the presidential election season and the only debate between the vice presidential candidates before the closely-contested election November 6. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Many presidential hopefuls have set up podiums, flanked by a faux Biden or a charlatan Bernie, hammering out strategies with their aides to make the most of the few minutes they’ll have to get their message to the American people.

According to a New York Times report, candidates like Washington Gov. Jay Inslee realize that the debate is a rare chance to drum up some name recognition in a tightly-packed field.

“For a candidate like myself, who is essentially unknown, this is a great chance to make a first impression on the nation,” he told the Times. “I think the dialogue will be much more between the candidates and the viewers, than between the candidates.”

For those like former Vice President Joe Biden or Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), much of the deliberation is about whether or not to stay above the fray.

All the candidates, though, put their own unique spin on the long practice sessions. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has set up camp in a car dealership with her staffers standing in for other candidates. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) punctuates his answers with pushups. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) has been studying tapes of the 2016 Republican debates, featuring a similarly crowded field.

The debates will be held this Wednesday and Thursday, starting at 9 PM E.T. hosted by NBC.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. For those like former Vice President Joe Biden or Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), much of the deliberation is about whether or not to stay above the fray.

    What does that even mean: “stay above the fray”?

    Such appeals to civility in these tumultuous times are a bit absurd. It’s going to get nasty, and it needs to.

  2. Trolls in the Hive threads, friends. Don’t feed them.

  3. Biden is checking his Rolodex (an actual Rolodex) for more segregationists to name drop.

  4. His knack for non-apologies is truly world class.

  5. Word.

    But w/r/t debates…There is the finest group of candidates I have seen in a while…and something else:

    A chance for the eventual Nominee to take a little that is useful from most every contender…

    When we get rid of Trump, THAT will be a “legacy” of his “presidency”.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

5 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for dr_coyote Avatar for UnfadingGreen Avatar for maxwellsdemon Avatar for turdburgler Avatar for dickweed Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for emiliano4

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: