Trump decides that he doesn’t need special preparation for the WH2020 TV debates

Trump decides that he doesn’t need special preparation for the WH2020 TV debates

Given their importance this sounds like a risky strategy

The next big event in the White House race is the the first TV debate between Trump and Biden – something that at previous elections contenders have put a lot of effort preparing for trying to anticipate how the event will go and have ready some biting attack lines.

So it is rather surprising that the incumbent, Mr. Trump, has decided to spurn the normal preparation. According to NBC News:

The president has dismissed the typical debate preparations he participated in four years ago, joking to aides and allies that he’s been preparing for debates since he was born. His ability to fire back at an opponent in real time, he’s argued, “isn’t something you have to practice. Instead, Trump has so far chosen to prepare through informal discussions with key allies and with briefings from top officials in his administration on various topics that are likely to come up, these people said.

This sounds like a huge gamble because the opening event, on September 29th, is likely to attract a huge audience and could set the tone for the remainder of the campaign.

What is interesting is that the incumbent is taking this approach while at the same time placing a huge amount of emphasis on the debates which he his team think will raise questions about Biden’s mental abilities. The big hope is that Biden will make a misstep that can be blown up and hurt him.

I think Trump is crazy because for the past four years he’s never faced serious scrutiny and has a habit of walking out of press briefings if he doesn’t like the questions that journalists put to him. Unlike Biden who had to fight a primary campaign he’s out of practice with the TV debate format.

On Betfair punters currently rate his chances of victory at 45%

Mike Smithson

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