Janice R. Andrews
Declaring that President Joe Biden is “corrupt Joe Biden,” calling him “the worst president in the history of our country,” and that he “can’t put two sentences together,” Donald Trump is apparently certain that he can’t possible lose a debate to the man.
Even though Trump’s caustic remarks could win him a figurative Nobel Prize for insults, the truth is that he may suffer serious electoral blows by the time the debates conclude. He might lose against Biden in a variety of ways, many of which are the result of self-inflicted injuries.
Recognizing that his best chance of winning is by turning the election into a referendum on Trump rather than his own record, President Biden is keen to debate the candidate. Reminding voters why they ousted Trump in 2020 is the cornerstone of Biden’s campaign, as polls show that Americans are displeased with his performance.
Hardline supporters on both sides won’t be persuaded by debates. Regardless of how well he does in the debate, Trump’s supporters will back him because they think Biden poses an existential threat to the country. But, Biden’s followers will stick with him regardless of any gaffes during the debate because they believe that Trump poses a threat to democracy.
Therefore, the focus is on moderate voters who are still unsure. This is the weak point for Trump. His proclivity for interrupting and humiliating opponents may cause him to lose the favor of suburban women and college-educated swing voters who remember the turmoil of his administration.
Trump established a low standard for the President with his derogatory comments regarding Biden’s mental capacity. If Biden does well enough, he can be seen as the winner just by surpassing these meager expectations.
Further escalating the matter is Trump’s demand that Biden submit to a drug test, which is predicated on baseless allegations regarding his performance during the State of the Union speech. As the debates get closer, it’s still unclear if Trump can win without turning into his own worst enemy or if his actions will ultimately bring him to an end.
