Experts handicap the Trump-Biden debate

livemint.com:

J and Donald Trump will enter CNN’s Atlanta studio next Thursday for the most important 90 minutes of this election season. What they say, the impressions they leave, their confrontations, mistakes and humanizing moments could determine who wins in November. If one candidate has a particularly bad night, undecided and otherwise up-for-grabs voters could lock in for his opponent.

Since the next debate comes nearly 11 weeks later, it’ll be difficult to rehabilitate a damaged campaign. To understand what each camp faces, I talked with five Republicans and three Democrats who have helped presidential candidates with debates, from role-playing opponents and critiquing prep sessions to spinning the press after the studio lights were cut. Everyone agreed that both candidates face tests of self-awareness and impulse control.

Mr. Biden must demonstrate sustained mental acuity. He can’t freeze, stare blankly or sound befuddled.

Mr. Trump can’t come off as unhinged or enraged. The words “rigged election" shouldn’t pass his lips.

He has to keep his cool and can’t make it all about himself. The target voters who could be swayed aren’t either side’s true believers. Each party’s base will stick with its man, no matter what.

Swing voters, however, can be moved by the debate and the subsequent conversation. Post debate commentary, influenced by post debate spin, will matter. Many voters will decide who won based more on body language, confidence and who seemed on his game than on any specific policy point.

The experts I interviewed agreed that Mr. Trump should make the election a referendum on Mr. Biden’s four years while Mr.

Biden should make it a choice between the stability he’ll provide and Mr. Trump’s chaos. Mr.