President Donald Trump and Former Vice President and Democratic Nominee Joseph R. Biden Jr. participated in the first presidential debate of the 2020 election on Tuesday, Sept. 29. The 90-minute debate was moderated by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace and was held at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. While the two presidential candidates shared a cordial welcome at the start of the evening, it did not take long for the gloves to come off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump and Biden tackled a variety of issues, including the Supreme Court vacancy, COVID-19, the economy, racial injustice, the candidates\u2019 records, climate change, and the integrity of this year\u2019s election. The evening was memorable for Trump\u2019s constant interruptions, Biden\u2019s name-calling, and Wallace\u2019s attempts to keep the two candidates under control. At several points, the debate descended into chaos, with all three men talking over each other at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWill you shut up, man?\u201d Biden said, after one of Trump\u2019s interruptions. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to get a word in with this clown.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The debate performance was particularly concerning for the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), as they released a statement on Wednesday saying that Tuesday\u2019s debate \u201cmade clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues.\u201d The CPD is a nonprofit corporation that sponsors and produces the televised presidential debates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In particular, Trump took aim at Biden\u2019s intelligence, each of Biden\u2019s two sons, and Biden\u2019s record as a politician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn 47 months I\u2019ve done more than you have in 47 years,\u201d Trump said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of Trump\u2019s overall messages to voters focused on the \u201cbooming economy\u201d from his first three years as president and his success in rebuilding that economy back from the COVID-19 recession. In reference to what a Biden presidency would look like, Trump repeatedly suggested that Biden would be controlled by the \u201cradical left,\u201d and often conflated Biden\u2019s proposed policies with those of other prominent Democrats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Biden returned fire with his own evaluation of Trump\u2019s record, calling him \u201cthe worst president America has ever had.\u201d Likewise, Biden blamed Trump for the COVID-19 pandemic, accused Trump of divisive rhetoric, and suggested that Trump\u2019s elitism renders him unable to sympathize with the average American. Unlike Trump, Biden delivered some of his most passionate pleas right into the camera, speaking directly to voters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At several points, both Trump and Biden dodged pointed questions from Wallace about controversies surrounding their respective platforms. Biden would not indicate whether or not he would consider adding Supreme Court justices if elected, while Trump pivoted away from unequivocally denouncing white supremacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the biggest questions surrounding this election has been the actual voting process, as COVID-19 will be forcing more Americans than ever to vote by mail. While Trump insisted that voter fraud is already happening and will jeopardize the legitimacy of the election results, Biden assured viewers to have faith in the vote-counting process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the debate being held just 35 days before the election, nationwide polling has consistently shown Biden leading over Trump. However, many political pundits point to the 2016 election that looms as a reminder that polling should not be treated as a foolproof source for predicting election outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chairman of the history and political science department Dr. Steven Breezeel does not expect for this first debate performance to have a major impact on either candidate\u2019s current standing in the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was a highly combative atmosphere where I doubt either candidate was able to gain significant ground with the voters,\u201d Breezeel said. \u201cUndecided voters will probably have been disturbed by the entire event and not especially drawn to either candidate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reactions from those who watched the debate have indicated frustration and disappointment over the candidates\u2019 behavior.While such discouragement is understandable, it should not necessarily come as a surprise, according to junior Davis Threlkeld, chairman for the Harding Republicans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have seen a hyper polarization of politics and that was on display,\u201d Threlkeld said. \u201cBut the debate was not the first fracturing of political discourse, it was the product of that system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Associate professor of communications Dr. Jim Miller said the debate showed what kind of leadership the country is missing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have never felt more strongly that our society needs better models for how to debate someone who disagrees with us,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next debate will be between Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris on Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. CST. Trump and Biden won\u2019t take the stage again until Oct. 15 in a town-hall style debate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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