Former President Donald Trump is being warned to avoid debate pitfalls Thursday that could weaken his standing with voters, particularly critical independents and moderate Republicans who remain on the fence about the former president.
Mr. Trump’s supporters say he will be ambushed when he debates President Biden for 90 minutes at an event moderated by two CNN hosts who have compared him to Hitler and called his first term in office a “nightmare.”
Strategists say the former president can win the debate, but only if he avoids a few significant mistakes.
1. Avoid getting too ugly.
Mr. Biden will likely take personal jabs at Mr. Trump over his felony convictions and 2020 loss to try to bait him. Mr. Trump should avoid punching back harder, strategists say. He should also avoid discussing the legal entanglements of Mr. Biden’s son Hunter Biden.
Arguments that become too personal could turn off wavering voters who are skittish after Mr. Trump’s convictions in New York and whose support could determine the winner of critical battleground states.
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“Polling indicates that he has suffered some damage from the conviction among voters who were neither Republicans nor Democrats,” Democratic political strategist Hank Sheinkopf said. “If it looks like he’s acting in an outrageous fashion, that can only injure him.”
The president’s son was convicted of gun violations and is now facing prosecution on tax fraud charges, but Mr. Sheinkopf said Mr. Trump should stick to criticizing his opponent’s performance in office, not his parenting skills.
“Never mind Hunter Biden. Stay on the issues. The management issues,” he said.
2. Don’t focus on the past.
Mr. Trump shouldn’t spend the debate rehashing his 2020 loss and should stay quiet about claims that Mr. Biden stole the election. If asked about his past statements that election fraud and irregularities unfairly handed Mr. Biden the win, Mr. Trump should pivot to the present, said Drew McKissick, chair of the South Carolina Republican Party.
“Don’t let them waste your time on that,” he advised Mr. Trump. “You’ve got only 90 minutes, and at least half of that is going to the other side, probably more. You’ve got to use that time to talk about the future and not about the past. And why this election is so critical to our future and our children’s future. That’s the place to stay. If he does that, it’s going to be a success.”
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3. Don’t act “unpresidential.”
Mr. Trump has shown that he is willing to go low by lobbing personal insults at his opponents and even the moderators, but longtime political strategist Ed Rollins said he should avoid it on Thursday’s debate stage.
Instead, Mr. Trump should focus on top voter concerns such as inflation and weak foreign policy and whether voters feel safer than they did four years ago by pointing to the porous southern border and illegal immigrant crime that has proliferated during Mr. Biden’s term.
“If he also could act and appear presidential, he wins easy,” Mr. Rollins said.
4. Don’t get dragged down by abortion questions.
Mr. Trump will undoubtedly have to explain his position on abortion limits, an issue that has divided the country and hurt some Republicans in elections since the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 ruling legalizing abortion nationwide.
Strategicians say Mr. Trump should explain his position as he does on the campaign trail: by championing the high court decision that handed the matter back to the states.
“He’s got to stick to his message that he’s not for federal action. And then get on offense,” Republican strategist and debate coach Brett O’Donnell said.
Mr. Trump should expose the Democratic position as radical and in favor of abortion up to the moment of birth, he said.
5. Don’t keep talking.
On the debate stage, Mr. Trump is known for aiming brutal zingers at his opponents, often while it is their turn to answer a question. His interruptions have revved up his supporters at past debates, but that tactic could backfire this time.
The microphones have cutoff switches, and CNN’s moderators, who have made no secret of their disdain for Mr. Trump, will control them.
There will be no live audience at the debate this time, so even if Mr. Trump keeps talking with his microphone muted, Mr. McKissick said, “people might not hear him at all.”
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
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