Good evening welcome to cspans coverage of the first president ial debate of the 2024 election. A view from tonight in atlanta and the spin room where supporters of the candidates are already gathering to talk to the media. In an hour President Biden former President Trump will face off in a debate for the First Time Since the 2020 election for tonights debate hosted by cnn and simulcast here on the cspan network. Before the debate begins tonight we want to start the conversation as we always do on cspan with all of you, the voters. If you are supporting President Biden and you already know you will be voting for him tile intn tonight 2027488920. If you support former president style in 2027488921. If you are undecided about who you will vote for this november call in 202 7488922. And if you have decided to vote for eight Third Party Candidate calls 2027488923. Our question for you before the debate, what do you want to hear in this first president ial debate . That is our question join us on x as well at the handle at cspan or facebook. Com cspan you can also send a text and answer that question 2027488903. We will also hear from you after tonights debate we will take your phone calls and your texts if you follow us on x at cspan you can participate in our poll this evening. Want to know and that poll who you think one tonights debate. We will share those results later on. Joining us from inside the spin room tonight is naomi White House Reporter with the washington examiner. According to the Hollywood Reporter cnn told that outlet there are over 800 journalists from around the world on site in atlanta to cover this first president ial debate. Describe the scene were you are at in the spin room in the atlanta studio and around the city. There is an amazing sense of anticipation here. Think reporters are feeling the weight of this moment. This is an unprecedented event in terms of the debate. Its against the two candidates although the public knows very well has not seen them as you are so describing sidebyside since 2020. And that was waiting to figure out what will happen. Weve been talking about for so long for it to little bit different in previous years in previous years you can go to these debates pull aside and wait to go in how they are feeling about the election about the different campaigns in the different candidates and the different issues. This debate is different than in the past you mentioned hosted by cnn the first time that has happened in almost 40 years. There is no in person audience will be the two moderators jake tapper and dana bash. No Campaign Staff is like to intercede in the two commercial breaks. There is a sense of heightened anticipation expectation. There are protests whittled around their security is very large here it is not something the candidates will interact with less on the way into the motorcade into the venue. What is security like around the atlanta studio there . Its really on lockdown. It places annoyance irritated because at the same time there other sporting events. That lead up to tonight the feelings about the debate usually having an event like this in a battleground state in georgia will be seen as a boon for the local economy that would different this time because we do not have the audience. There are hundreds of journalists for all around the world. You are in the spin room what is this room . And what happens there . This is basically a basketball stadium at the Georgia Institute of technology. It has been transformed yet set like yours along either side. Workers would eke out points you are seeing the campaign to bring up their surrogates what are their expectations are what they are hoping to get out of this. And we are seeing that play out. Local journalist doing things to try and convey what is happening here to audiences like yours. What surrogates are we expecting to see in the spin room tonight after the debate . Cspan is going to be alive to there for many of the candidate supporters. Who are some names we can expect to see . It is going to be interesting in terms of years gone past theres been little more freewheeling Campaign Surrogates will support standing we learn the 70 Biden Campaign is throwing out their playbook and said theyre going to bring out people like gavin newsom from california. People like senator rafael for from georgia. Also former atlanta and they will do a very formal press conference each of those surrogates will give a statement and take us to view statements and leave that room. At the same time very inline with the campaign they tend to be very disciplined its a wait for them to control what happens depending if its a good night or bad night for biden. On the trump side to being tightlipped about it but we have seen representative by written donalds from florida take questions we have seen the 2016 Campaign Manager doing his rounds they will be a different operation from years gone past. Again maybe that will change of the fighting campaign has a good night its very much expectations its interesting to some of the prespin they were saying they are not anticipating a pulling a bump per se their chance to make sure the president can lay out the contrast between these two candidates we have not seen sidebyside in so many years. Anything else the two camps have told you about their strategy tonight . And their preparation for the debate . The preparations have been very different from the two candidates just like their policies are different in terms of preparations you have biden who is taking a traditional approach. Send out former white house chief of staff doing 90 minute debate on the other hand you have trump maybe this is an expectation setting game. There have advisors people like jason miller is the calmest advisor as well as policy advisors like Stephen Miller with this immigration policy as well as the three candidates of popping up for potential Vice President ial nomination. Advising him and doing informal policy discussions. That is how they are prepared in terms of strategy it will be interesting hearing trump will be talking about crime, economy and immigration mercy biden camp will be talking about the importance of democracy but talk about the 2020 election interference as well as a january 6 capitol riots as well as this idea trump is helping big business and wealthy people not the middle class. The other talking points we will expect to hear biden has been a little more forthcoming in terms of his strategy. One thing his strategy has said he may try to up here and speak to the camera it like i am speaking to you to skirt around trump and the moderators to get his message directly out to the people. That is what we are seeing three debates. First debate if stops in virginia on the trump side and stops in North Carolina on the biden side. And then fundraising off of that as well. Naomi covers the white house for the washington examiner. Thank you for your time. As we heard from naomi the topics likely to be addressed this evening by the two candidates for that is what we want to hear from you i had at tonights debate at 9 00 p. M. Eastern time. What issues do you want them to address . Well get to your thoughts here in just a minute. But first is naomi it was talking about she is in the spin room which is where the surrogates go before and after to talk about how they expect their candidates to do and how they did and talk about how they did an actual debate lets take a spin around the spin room. [inaudible conversations] [background noises] cspan camera live inside the spin room in atlanta just ahead at tonights cnn president ial debate we along with many other networks simulcasting the debate here on our cspan network ahead of the two candidates swearing off in his first president ial debate. We want to hear from all of you this evening. Tonights debate is different from previous debates in many ways as many of you have heard the first time the sitting president swears off against the former president and the first time in 37 years the commission on president ial debate has not hosted a general election matchup. The rules are different as well. This is what you can expect. A 90 minute debate tonight. The microphone will be muted when one candidate is talking and addressing the question or responding to a question. No props or prewritten notes are allowed. They will be provided a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water. Their week two commercial breaks about three and half minutes long. No Campaign Staff can interact during those breaks. Cnn is not allowing the other networks to provide analysis or have their anchors fill the file brakes. They can fill the brakes with ads. No Opening Statements from the candidates. They will have a uniform podium. In other words they will look at the same and the positions have been determined by a coin flip. President biden on the right, former President Trump will be on the left of your screen. And, as you have heard no studio audience. A little more about tonights debate from cnn phil mattingly. Lesson on the network he did a walkthrough of the debate hall. The debate studio. Take a look. President biden will enter from the right side of your screen. President trump will enter from the left side of your screen. The podiums are 8 feet apart. Directly across from them the moderators jake tapper and dana bash pray this is a Television Studio and audience candidates of two minutes answer question one meant for responses and rebuttals. At the moderators discretion there may be an additional minute for followups, clarification or responses. How does a candidate know how much time is left to speak . Attached to the camera in the studio and the candidates field of view are the timing light. The lights show yellow there is 15 seconds left in the candidates answer or response. When the lights flashed red theres five seconds left but when the display is solid red the time is up. At that point the candidate the microphone will be turned off. The other candidate will have their microphone turned on. My colleague Victor Blackwell has more on that. Thank you, phil. We go behind the podiums you can see two green lights up right when they are on they signal to the candidates microphone is on. When the green light is off they signaled the microphone is off. I want to give you a sense of what it will look like for viewers at home if a candidate microphone is off interrupts a candidates microphone is on par and sending it one podium unless phil took a minute take the other podium. Lets say i am answering a question put my light is green and i am speaking. Phils microphone is off in his green lights are not illuminated. Hes going to interrupt me as im speaking and this is what it will sound my put my volume remains constant law fills interruption can be difficult to understand. Lets try the opposite might microphone it is now on victors microphone is off but he is going to interrupt me. My volume remains constant while victors interruption could be difficult to understand. The Production Team assured this demonstration with the campaigns earlier today we are sharing with you, our viewer so everyone fully understands how tomorrow night will work. We should note by agreeing to participate in this debate both campaigns and candidates have also agreed to abide by these rules. From cnn a preview of how tonights debate will work. We are simulcasting cnn president ial debate here on the cspan network and ahead of the two candidates squaring off we want to hear from all of you. What do you want to hear from these two candidates . There are the lines on your screen will hear from deandre first in baltimore. You are undecided, tell us why. Caller thank you for taking my call. The reason im undecided is both candidates are pro israel. We need to focus on america and americans and secure our southern border. Let israel fight their own oars. Foreign policy you want to hear them talk about that tonight . Looks correct, correct. Lets bring it to the table about making a pack a register it as a foreign entity pretty think that is very important for our nation. Deandre in baltimore undecided adrian in court north north china supporting President Biden. What do you want to hear from him and the former president question at what issues you want them to debate . I would love for them to talk about how they are going to support educators in the United States. As a science educator myself, i wanted them to talk about what this means for the education of our children. Also as a woman, a mother and a grandmother i want to know how they are going to take care of our children. And finally as a human, taking care of the middle class. This is not happened. A strong middle class represents a strong United States. So far it looks like we have been losing that. We feel like taxation without representation. And that holds true for anyone who is not the top 10 . Adrian howdy take care the middle class . Caller take care of them by not taxing them to death. Whats happening right now as it seems like these of billionaires and millionaires are getting out with tax loops and whatever they want to do. It is illegal to them so they go ahead and do it. They are stealing from the lower classes and its just all to benefit the rich. We see that happening with the index of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. See and kayla and waterloo, iowa supporting the former president we are listening to you. Caller i would like to limit the people coming into our country and checking to see if they are terrorists. They have been let out of prisons in their own countries and then let them in legally. I would also like to see a reform made on our Health Insurance for all obamacare. We are just now reaping the repercussions from that. That has just devastated the senior populations and also the economy put lets get that back up. And how do you do that . What do you need to see for you to feel the economy is better . I need to see our prices come down. Our middle class going back to work in jobs they can make a living at. Make their rents, make their insurance payments, whatever they need to have they are not making it now. What is not affordable . Tell me some items that are not affordable in your opinion . Of food, gas, clothing, everything that i can think of off the top of my head is too expensive. All of the prices have gone up it might be price gouging in some instances and maybe we need to look into that because what you think the former president would do better on the economy than President Biden . Well, first of all he has a business attitude. He hasnt been in business for many years. He knows how that works. He also knows how to talk to people. The one im going to leave it there want to go back inside the spin room on former president ial contender himself this time around. Impossible contender for a running mate for the former president talking to the media. Environment of regulatory ambiguity. Regulatory ambiguity is a precondition for government overreach. The government is not predefined with the rules as a guest and a fine. Whatever the rules are. [inaudible] additional fee and said thats why the not doing something about it . Is not the sole reason but theres a big part of a white janet yellen and others have expressed support for Digital Bank Currency which i am dead set opposed to and i am grateful and happy donald trump a number of months ago after some conversations that we had came out with Firm Opposition to Central Bank Digital currency. That is good it embodies who he is and why he entered government in the first place. That is part of what drain the swamp is all about us providing clarity with the rules are or arc, staying within the confines of what the says not seizing power the federal government should not have in first place is part of what it represents there is one reason President Biden operating in the realm of ambiguity question make sure i think President Biden question was handlers are who were controlling him. I do think thats one of the reasons they prefer that regime. One among many for the modern Democratic Party. Very common progress who are you with . What is your response . Say that again . The attacks against trump to uphold the constitution which response to that . Whats my response of that thats a lot of projection for the people are making the accusations. The reality is, hes not call for the termination. He did not call. Psyched for me one time or donald trump call for the termination of the constitution . Hes never called for the termination. Here is what i believe. What i do believe is there is a projection . Vivek ramaswamy and the spinner mark amos or live inside there this evening ahead of tonights cnn president ial debate which we will simulcast here on cspan network. We are getting your thoughts the head of the debate on what topics you want addressed by these two candidates . Ivanka good evening to you you are supporting President Biden, is that right . Caller sam. Host what do you want them to address . I am tired of the lies. I am tired of hearing people uplift donald trump as though he is a god. He is not. He is not a conservative he is a radical i am a christian and i love my country. But i do not feel safe with other christians right now who believe that donald trump is the Second Coming of jesus christ. I am also an educator i am tired of people dumbing down education. I went President Biden to be able to work through some of the issues we have seen happen in the last eight years. And bring education back up. Stop burning books. Stop banning books and educate people really educate people i think with the decency biden brings to the table that we can come back together at some point in this gales will fall off the lives of the people have been deceived by donald trump. Host Staten Island, new york undecided calling. Why are you undecided . Collin in Staten Island are you with us . Undecided progress yes, i am sorry. I feel like i am leaning towards a biden but it is mostly because i am cringing away from trump. He has too much baggage she has way too much baggage and tonight when i am looking for is for biden to show he has some vigor i feel like. It is on fear of the clips that are snipped for him but seriously he wl cross over to the g7 he is over there for the june or memorial holiday he is showing something i dont think the rest of the country sees often. You want to see vitality from the president , mental acuity is that which you are looking for to seal the deal . I think he has its i just dont think he is showing it or its not being shown. This is a big audience for him tonight. I think as an opportunity. Listen i would rather have another choice i would really like to have another choice. It is so by inerrant words one or the other i think trump doesnt have summary things including character i mean there is so much it would be a lot to get into a very. In week two candidates on the stage tonight. The candidates and must meet requirements outlined in article two section one of the u. S. Constitution natural born citizen, 35 years of age and have lived in the United States for 14 years. Cnn hasdditional qualifications there must be a formal statement of candidacy filed and be on enough ballots to have a pathway to 270 eltoral votes. They must also have reached at least 15 and four separate National Polls that means, as many of you know Robert Kennedy junior will not be on the debate stage night the candidate campaign isot given many details on how his solo debate will unfold. He will be having what he i calling his own real debate streaming on x this is from cbs reporting. It have a Live Audience that will take place at the same time as a cnn president ial debate he plans to respond to the questions given to the candidates in his debate. Well show you a little bit of that after tonight cnn president ial debate. Several of you have also talked about the economy this evening. It is one of the issues that you want addressed by these two candidates. It was an issue back in 2020 as well. We went to show you what the two candidates had to say back then and 2020 when they squared off in the first president ial debate of that election year. My economic plan would create 7 million more jobs in his in four years, number one. And number two, it would create an additional 1 trillion in Economic Growth because it be about being about buying america is going to limit significant numbers of taxa but im going to make the Corporate Tax 28 should not be 21 . You have 91 companies in the fortune 500 who do not pay single penny and tax. Financial junior Vice President with obama . Because you infect the past that. That is your tax proposal request i got it done to what happened . Our economy boomed. Mr. President let me pick up on that. You would continue your free market approach, lower taxes, more deregulation correct . Click settler attacks of the American People. You talk about the economy booming it turns out obamas final three years as president more jobs were create a million and a half more jobs than in the first three years of your presidency. They had the slowest recovery since 19209 when the stock market goes up that means jobs that also means a 401 k if you got it if you ever became present with your ideas you to terminate my taxes i will tell you what, you will lose half of the companies and reported here will leave. Plenty are here they will leave. They will leave and youll have a depression the likes of which youve never seen. We inherited the worst recession short of a depression in American History i was asked to bring it back we were able to have an economic recovery that create the jobs you are talking about. We handed him a booming economy he blew it. He blew it because it was not booming it was the weakest recovery. Is it fair to say he blew it when there was record low unemployment before covid . Because what he did even before covid manufacturing went in the hole. Manufacturing went in the hole. Number two, number three. Know your number two. Chris, chris and they said it would take a miracle to bring back manufacturing but i brought 700,000 jobs. They brought back nothing they gave up on manufacturing. Im the guy that brought back the automobile industry. We brought back i was asked to bring back chrysler and General Motors and brought them back right here in the state of ohio and michigan for he blew it, they are gone he blew it. Ohio had the best year it ever had last year. Of the first president ial bate of the 2020 election cycle then Vice President joe biden then the sitting president president rump. You can watch previous debates if you go to our website cspanrg we also have previous Vice President ial debates. We are 30 minutes away from the cnn president ial debate the first one of this 2024 election cycle being held before these two candidates have been officially nominated by their parties they are the presumptive nominees tonight. Cnn reporting they were going through final prep right now before the 9 00 p. M. Eastern start we are asking all of you what you want to hear from them tonight iv in washington supporting the former president your turn. Caller thank you, can you hear m we can. Okay. [inaudible] i think my issue is immigration. Others like citizenship i think its. [inaudible] should be limited to private citizens. I also believe in those cases we need to address agriculture. And from the usda have not paid out those awards as of yet very. Ivy a little difficult to understand you because of an echo there. I think where the gist of it on immigration. Kevin in fort wayne, indiana undecided. What are you waiting for . To decide . Caller i am waiting to see if i can stop being a political atheist. What does that mean . I will explain in these terms. Mr. Trump has shown a total lack of respect for our institutions of government. That extends across the spectrum from the Justice Department through the legislative branch to obviously the executive branch progress or lack of respect can you tell us what you want from President Biden . I like President Biden to point that out significantly to the American People as a matter of explaining to the American People as he is attempted recently. Why mr. Trump isnt terribly unfit to ever be president again of the United States for. Kevin will leave it at that and go inside the spin room California Governor Gavin Newsom is talking to the media a supporter of President Biden. He was talking about sinking electric votes the teleprompter went off and he panicked. There are some legitimate questions there as well. Ask how you counsel someone is more debate experience in any modern american president . He has been at this more than anybody what it wanted to do is say can you counsel me on how to relax tonight . Somewhat not up there probably more anxiety than he does. He delivers each and every time you have seen it. Look at back heat meets these moments, he delivers i honestly have all the confidence in the world hell do that again tonight. The only thing that is interesting is how this might issue will play out for. Tell us more about that. That mute button is new weve never had that before. Is just interesting. All of us are interested, what does that mean heres a guy who talks over and tries to bully everybody its all about intimidation. Its all about trying to get someone off their script and off their game. It plays very differently he sitting there mouthing off on a split screen people will say why is he talking and i cant hear him he looks more unhinged he is reasonably already unhinged. That may temper his temperament tonight having the mic not being on i dont know well have to see. Correct governor gavin newsom through view could go back to 2020 to get an idea of what tonight will be like different rules as we have talked about. Back in 2020 during the first president ial debate the former then President Trump interrupted then Vice President joe biden over 100 times but as you heard from the governor as you heard throughout leading up to tonights debate the microphone will be muted. And so they help that is going to cut down on interruption. An issue discussed back in 2020 likely to come up again this evening is the issue of abortion. Back in 2020 and that debate former President Trumps appointment of amy kony varick to the Supreme Court heres how the topic played out before the striking didnt down of roe v wade. Is the president also is opposed to roe v wade. That is on the ballot as well and in the court. That is also at stake right now. And so the election for. Progress youdont know whats ot why is it on the ballot . Its not on the ballot. It is on the ballot in the court. There is nothing happening there. You do not know her view on roe v wade. The fact is everything he is saying so far simply a lie im not here to call at his lies everyone knows he is a liar. I want to make sure pickwick should gradually lessen your class not first in your class. Mr. President can you him hae finished their question. Issue is the American People should speak. You should go out and vote you are in voting and output vote let your senators know how strongly you feel. Vote now. Make sure you in fact let people know im not going to answer the question because the question is. The radical left because you shut up, who was on your list, joe . Who is on your list . Gentlemen we have ended the segment were going to move on to the second segment too. I was a really productive segment, wasnt it . Keep yapping, man the people understand. From september of 2020 the two candidates then talking about abortion issue that could come up tonight but we are asking all of you what issues you want them to talk about. Melinda and carls bet you are us supporting a thirdparty candidate, is that right . Caller yes i am. Host and who what candidate . Caller i am very excited about rfk junior regardless of whether he is included in this debate i believe he is talking about what is really important to the United States people. Host are you going to be watching his reaction and response of the two candidates on x . I will be doing them both simultaneously. However what really concerns me all about this debate and this is with the primaries as well, is censorship. I would love either candidate who is on the stage tonight to speak about censorship. But why would we not include a third candidate that has submitted appropriate amount of signatures but the states would not certify them. I think average americans are feeling more disenfranchised every day. I care about illness im particularly concerned about the five states are with kansas pursuing visor. Ive seen businesses going under people losing their houses during covid i was a very democratic probe biden at that time i was really believing this is what is saving us. And i feel very duped. I feel very duped into watching how the primaries have went down, forward it just said biden is the only one in the primary. Why want to support the Democratic Party who has had my total loyalty i worked for them and im extremely disappointed. I like the ideas and thank you for giving me a voice i appreciate. Absolutely adrian and lakeland, florida supporting President Biden. Yes, hello. What issues do you want the to check debate tonight . First of all let me say ive been watching exit President Trump since the 1980s. All he has ever done was rip off people, bankrupt companies and ally. The slogan for him should be the truth is i always lie thats all he does. For this country to go and support and insurrectionist and the people in congress who support him the 118th congress is gotten nothing done. Nothing because of the inadequate people that have been elected to serve him over our constitution. When everybody takes an oath, including the Supreme Court whoever takes the oath they are not merely words on a page. They mean something picker are adrian and florida several of you have mentioned the issue of immigration likely to come up again tonight, Border Security et cetera. Immigration and Border Security brought up in 2020 during the two debates as well. This is what the two candidates were saying on it at the second and final debate of 2020 in nashville. Mr. President you are in ministration separated children from their parents at the border at least 4000 kids if since reverse zerotolerance policy but the United States cannot locate the parents of more than 500 children so how will these families ever be reunited . Children are brought here by coyotes and lots of bad people cartels and they are brought here in the use use them to get into our country we have a strong a border as we have ever had. We are over 400 miles a brandnew while you see the numbers and we let people in but they have to come in legally. How will you reunite these kids with their families mr. President . They used to say i built the cages. And then they had a picture in a certain newspaper purrs a picture of these horrible cages and they said look at these cages. President trump built them then it was determined they were built in 2014. That was him. He plans to reunite the kids . X we are trying very hard. A lot of the kids come out with the parents they come over there cartels and through coyotes and three gangs. 500 plus kids came with parents or they separated them at the border to make it a disincentive to begin with. We are tough and really strong and guess what coyotes did not bring them over their parents were with them. They got separated from their parents and that makes us the laughing stock and violates every notion of who we are as a nation. Parents kids were ripped from their arms and separated. They have over 500 sets of those parents and those kids are alone. Nowhere to go. Nowhere to go. It is a criminal. It isnt criminal or. I will say this they went down with the reporters and everything they are so well taken care of. They are in facilities that are so clean pickwick set up not been reunited or. Less ask one question who built the cages i would love to ask that who built the cages . Whats oath ask about your obama failed to deliver Immigration Reform have been a key promise during the administration also provided of a record deportation as well as family detention at the board before changing course so why should voters trust you with immigration overhaul now . He made the mistake it took too long to get it right. It took too long to get it right within 100 days im going to send to the United States congress a pathway to citizenship for over 11 million undocumented people all of those socalled dreamers, the docket kids are going to be immediately certified to be able to stay in this country and put on a path to citizenship. The idea here being sent home by the sky and they want to do that is they go into a country theyve never seen before i can imagine youre five years old, your parents are taking you across the Rio Grande River and it is illegal they say oh no, leave me here im not going to go with you. Many arent model citizens over 20000 our First Responders out there taking care of people during this crisis. We owe them. He had eight years to do what he said he was going to do. Without having a specific we got rid of catch and release. We got rid of a lot of horrible things they put in and they lived with. He had eight years he was Vice President , he did nothing it just shows he has no understanding of immigration of the laws. Catch and release is a disaster or a murderer would come in, a rapist would come in very bad ad person would come in. We would take their name we have to release them into our country and then you say they come back. Less than 1 of the people come back. We have to send ice out and Border Patrol out to send them to find that we would say come back in two years, three years were going to give you a court case you need. Mason move will give you a court case when you say they come back, they dont come back, joe they never come back only the really, i hate to say this but those with the lowest iq they might come back. The two candidates back in 2020 the second and final debate of that election cycle we are just less than 15 minutes away from this years first president ial debate hosted by cnn simulcasting here on the cspan network you are looking alive picture of the spin room the supporters for the candidates will go and talk to the media following the debate. Here at our studio cspan joining us peter is George WashingtonUniversity School of media and Public Affairs he is the chair there to talk about the history of debates. Thank you for being here. The very first televised president ial debate was in 1960 our viewers know between john f. Kennedy and richard nixon. How did that debate change campaign . What debating became part of the norm and became part of the Television Era campaigns can be in the liver that have go to a hall or field to watch the debate they came to our house. Since then has been part of the tradition of american politics every couple of years we are joined in her liver mechanics for president , senate, house, mayor or whatever they make their best case for themselves but. Is no audience then there is no audience tonight. How does that impact the outcome of this debate . Im not sure it impacts the outcome of the debate might impact how the debaters respond comparing 1960 to 2024 is a bit of a stretch there is no audience but a lot else has changed. Its a look at the candidates trump feeds off a crowd he likes a big audience he likes the feedback. President biden is better in a smaller setting is better one on one thats how he spent his career. Lack of a formal audience will help President Biden its a venue he is used to. Im not sure its one that will benefit trump because again he likes the energy defeats up the energy and it wont be there for another difference will be the microphones are going to be muted one canada has the floor. We saw the former president back in 2020 and the first debate interrupted then Vice President joe biden over 100 times. After the first debate is poll numbers went down the then sitting president s poll numbers went out how to think that muted microphones play out tonight . It definitely again hopefully brings control to the debate but a little less chaotic. Lots been made about the mic will be turned off when their time is up. Though one could imagine President Trump speaks loudly enough President Biden will probably kick it up as well. Hopefully again lb through a more informed conversation help voters make up their mind rather than putting it on the playground pickwick seat muted microphone is one change for this cnn president ial debate the commission on president ial debate has been the organization up until now over many decades have been the ones who have sponsored and organized these debates. How is tonight different without the commission during the debate . Some of the rules are different otherwise the candids wouldve gone to commissions more important that we are having debates and who is controlling the debates. We will see this if this works then theres office he is scheduled debate in september on abc if this works maybe this is what will happen next that what is really important is the reinforcement of democratic norm with seen attack on democratic norms and attack on Democratic Institutions with courts, congress, press, universities things close to your and my part the fact theyre having debates part of politics is normal you organize that amount is less than the fact there happening. Bucks another interesting tidbit about tonights you have one candidate running for reelection then you have the other who is attempting a nonconsecutive run. Talk about the history of that pickwick that happened once successfully backward mutton chops were a big deal im not sure we will be able to repeat that. Running on their record ands ainst their opponents record which is a n wrinkle. You said there was one successful president , Grover Cleveland had a nonconsecutive run at one first termn 1884. Defeated in 1888. Ran again and one in 1892. So if you want to be successful at what you have to do . As a former president approach this differently . He is attempting a nonconsecutive bid for the white house. What we know it works is due in 1892 with certain can lose from 2020 for the both run under record these are both known commodities people know President Biden from his time as a president , Vice President u. S. Senate even though donald trump is Reality Television show from headlines in new york and everything thats happened in between. We are not learning much new about these guys are going to watch to see how they comport themselves. Mostly people who are watching our parties in the press and mostwill say i told you so. Out of touch and incoherent and dangerous and want my guy can save the republic. I expect that is what we are going to see it well see how much it actually matters in the long run for campaigns agreed to this debate in part they said voters are using mail in ballots and early voting in record numbers they want to hold the debate now and june not in september after the conventions. In this new schedule of meeting the voters do you expect there will be a large audience tonight at home . Works or might be there might be numbers for the debates going up in recent years with the exception of 2020 but people are tuning and a lot of people tuning in her partisan. Guess early voting matters nobodys running for president yet these guys are not even that doesnt happen uil the convention i think the one in september will be more on track for early voting part one of things we know from the Science Research debates mate move some polling sometimes but they do not tend to move very many votes of one guy does really well and one does poorly in the polling numbers may shift but theyll settle back to their normal place and again youve got the convention similarly it will settle in. I am really not sure at tonights debate does much for the outcome of the election neither of these guys a win the election tonight. One could imagine tonight making the election trickier for one candidate or the other most of us or think about fourth of july a week it were not thinking about election in november. This age matter tonight . Click donald trump is certainly going to try to make it matter is going to say his opponent is old and out of touch youre not going to see the reagan i will make my experience an issue. Certainly it donald trump and joe biden both want to make their opponent the worse a caricature of their opponent possible and part of the caricature of a bidens he is old and gumming his jello we will see if that works. Former president is 78. President bidens 81 there is three years difference there. That is true people tend to talk by age the most of the president say so President Biden is really old, what you think of voters go while i guess is really old but matters his mental acuity with seen again and again biden at the state of Union Address at others has shown up at big moments under the Biden Campaign is hoping to do that tonight to say he is on top of his game and sharp as a techie shuffles a bit and looks old because 81 is old mental he is there hes the guy for the job and trump is going to try to undermine them. Both campaigns will use tonight to pull clips and poll videos of the worst moment of their opponent possible instate seat this is what my opponent is about this moment joe biden looks old. It is not about policy. It sounds a lot like personality are those two issues so intertwined . The American People by and large not vote impulsively to think we do but none of us carries on the spreadsheet in her head bouncing three points for abortion, two for guns and do that math and divide by four or Something Like that. Most of us are democrats and republicans even independents are reliably partisan. What we are looking for is mike i really up to the task . Trump has been picking up points lately one of the democrat argument theres a bunch bit of trump amnesia hopefully the Biting Campaign will remind voters hey he sounds a little wacky for the new numbers will stay back again is not on a policy. Have partisan rules would have a border law would have a wall in the southern border we have a lot of gun control. We have neither. But we want is someone who can represent and scan for values. This is neat this is who i want to project myself and my country to be in the white house and in bothguys are going to want tt demonstrate the top of the facts that rational or reasonable that they get the task done while simultaneously trying to goad the opponent between the worst caricature of himself or. Chair at the school of media and Public Affairs at George Washington university. Thank you for your timely appreciated many thanks always happy to join you. We talked about peter was talking about their policy, their records will come up tonight. Voters will have a record for both of these candidates but that wasnt issue back in 2020 as well. Take a look at the two candidates talk about their political records at the first debate in cleveland. Again these debates these previous debates and Vice President ial debates from all cycles can be found if you go to our website cspan. Org if you have missed any of them you can find them there. Back in 2020 talking about their political records. Looking at both of your records im going to ask each of you why it should voters elect to you president over your opponent . Because there hasnt never been an administration or president who has done more than i have done in a period of three and half years and that is despite the impeachment hoax and you saw it happen today with Hilary Clinton was a whole big con job. But despite going through all these things i do fight both flanks behind me and above there is never been an administration that is done what i have done before covid given the greatest economy in history the lowest unemployment numbers. Everything was good everything was going and there was unity going to happen people were calling me for the first time in years they were calling and they were saying its time maybe and then what happened we got hit but now are building it back up again our rebuilding of the military including space force and all the other things a fixing of the va which was a mess under him 308,000 people died because they did not a proper healthcare there was a mess. Under this president we become weaker, sicker, poor, more divided, and more violent. When i was Vice President we inherited a recession i was asked to fix it, i did we left him a booming economy any cost a recession. With regard to being weaker the fact is i am gonna head to head with putin and made it clear to him were not taking in of the stuff he is a potenza puppy he refuses to say thing to putin about the bounty on the heads of the american soldiers. No, no. Eight look back at the 2020 president ial debate the first one that took place in cleveland but we are about two minutes away from tonights 2024 president ial debate but will try to get in david who is in California Voting for Third Party Candidate. There only be two candidates on the stage tonight. What you want to hear from them . I want to hear shut the border quit letting these people in our country. Because there is no way people come into our country illegally will get jobs pay the rent, their food Everything Else that lives the social social system going for this isnt right. The border needs to be closed and people need to be deported because America First progress immigration is your issue that you want to hear from these candidates. Who are you supporting in november . Donald trump. Why . I feel he loves america. He wants america to beat number one and he is for the American People he is not for the globalists he is not for the corporations he is not out there getting money in for himself. And former President Trump. Following the debate, our coverage continues right here. We will take your phone calls and reaction on social media. We will also be live with the campaign inside