Final Details Set for Historic Biden-Trump Debate on CNN
As we inch closer to one of the most anticipated events of this year’s presidential election, everyone is braced and ready for what promises to be an explosive verbal duel between the incumbent, President Donald Trump, and his foremost Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. CNN, the chosen network to air this epochal event, has recently finalized the rules for this first Trump-Biden face-off.
Crucial to the organization of any debate, and in view of the global pandemic, the intricate details and rules were carefully crafted to ensure fairness and orderliness while keeping the health and safety of everyone involved at the forefront. The qualitative nature of the presidential debates, it has been noted, could significantly influence the eventual outcome of the elections. Hence, the set rules guarantee a level playing field for both candidates, emphasizing the profundity of the stakes embedded in each participant’s performance during the debate.
Due to the social distancing requirements necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the debate will not fall under the traditional town hall format. Instead, CNN will conduct the event under stringent safety protocols. The network plans to limit the live audience and ensure a sufficient distance between the candidates and audience members. All involved in the debate, from the candidates to the moderators and in-person audience, will be subject to COVID-19 testing and required to wear masks until they reach their designated positions.
The debate itself is set to last for 90 uninterrupted minutes, structured into six segments of 15 minutes each, according to the finalized rules. Each section will focus on different topical issues pertinent to the current American socio-political climate. While the specific topics are yet to be disclosed, they will be chosen and announced several days before the event by the designated moderator.
Surprisingly, the debate could still experience an unexpected twist. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental attorney, and nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, still stands a chance to be integrated into the debate fold. Although he hasn’t been as visible on the campaign trail as the primary contenders, RFK Jr has touted his ecological policies and legal acumen in front of smaller audiences and digital platforms. If he were to amass a significant surge in the polls or be endorsed by the Democratic Party, the rules have made room for him to join Biden and Trump on the debate stage.
CNN has stated that this possibility, though slim, provides an opportunity for the American public to broader perspectives on critical issues. If RFK Jr. can accomplish the herculean task of drawing enough support in such a limited time frame, his addition would bring an interesting dynamic to the Biden-Trump face-off.
With the finalized rules in place and the potential addition of RFK Jr. to the debate platform, CNN’s first Biden vs. Trump debate could change the course of the 2020 Presidential race. Only time will tell who will gain the upper edge in this historic event.
