WEBVTT 00:01.700 --> 00:03.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% AMNA NAWAZ: All right, let's turn now to our panel of analysts. 00:03.533 --> 00:05.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Guy and Kevin, I'm going to ask you to jump in here from your perspectives, 00:05.833 --> 00:10.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% because, as Lisa referenced, our poll has shown the majority of registered voters are 00:10.500 --> 00:13.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% unsatisfied with these two candidates, right? And it's across both parties, 00:13.733 --> 00:18.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% 51 percent of Democrats, 42 percent of Republicans, 70 percent of independents. 00:18.300 --> 00:21.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Kevin, how much of tonight is about the candidates 00:21.266 --> 00:24.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% calming those concerns just within their own parties? 00:24.466 --> 00:28.466 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% KEVIN MADDEN, Republican Strategist: Well, look, I think you probably have about 95 percent of the 00:28.466 --> 00:32.433 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% audience tonight is going to be tuning in with a rooting interest. Like, even if they're not 00:32.433 --> 00:36.433 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% happy with the candidates and they wish somebody else was running, they're probably more inclined 00:36.433 --> 00:40.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to already vote for -- if they already are leaning Republican or leaning Democrat. 00:40.366 --> 00:45.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And so this debate has more of an opportunity for that 4 to 5 percent that hasn't not yet 00:47.233 --> 00:49.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% made up their mind. And while a lot of the candidates are going to be trying 00:49.500 --> 00:52.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% to juice their base and remind that -- as one voter said, like, 00:52.133 --> 00:56.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% remind everybody that they're the fighter and that they're the candidate that they 00:56.033 --> 00:59.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% need to get out for, we still have those voters that have not made up their mind. 00:59.933 --> 01:04.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And that is the issue sets that those voters care about. These candidates 01:04.500 --> 01:09.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% now have an opportunity to talk directly to those voters about those issues. For Trump, 01:11.566 --> 01:14.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% it's voters -- motivating these voters on immigration and inflation, things like the 01:16.700 --> 01:19.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% economic sentiments that they have right now, the anxiety that they have about the economy. 01:19.266 --> 01:24.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% He has to speak very directly to those voters on those concerns. And as we heard earlier, 01:26.033 --> 01:29.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% for Biden, I think a lot of this is reminding voters about the January 6 01:31.866 --> 01:34.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Donald Trump and the chaos that he brings and raising the stakes of the election, 01:37.166 --> 01:40.300 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% so that not only do his base voters get out, but those swing voters in suburban areas around this 01:40.300 --> 01:43.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% country take a second thought on whether or not they really want to support Trump. 01:43.766 --> 01:47.366 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And they can be reminded that Joe Biden is the candidate that 01:47.366 --> 01:50.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% has always put himself forward as the candidate of stability, 01:50.133 --> 01:55.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% somebody who can bring people together in the country. And then, lastly, I think the 01:57.300 --> 01:59.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% issue of abortion. This is an issue where Joe Biden feels he can draw the hardest contrast. 02:01.833 --> 02:04.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And it's also an issue where, right now, the Republicans are in disarray on this 02:04.633 --> 02:09.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% issue legislatively, with trying to find a cohesive message. And I think drawing that 02:09.300 --> 02:13.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% contrast. And some of these swing voters in the state where a lot of these debates about 02:13.100 --> 02:18.100 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% abortion are had against the backdrop of some -- what many voters would see as extreme policies, 02:20.166 --> 02:22.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that's his best chance to really motivate those voters to get out on Election Day for him. 02:22.866 --> 02:26.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So this is a -- one of those moments where everything in the political world stops. 02:26.966 --> 02:28.766 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: Yes. KEVIN MADDEN: And for one moment, one night, 02:28.766 --> 02:33.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% 90 minutes, you have the concentrated attention of these swing voters. 02:33.000 --> 02:35.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: Guy, how do you look at it? What does President Biden have to do tonight? 02:35.866 --> 02:39.333 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% GUY CECIL, Democratic Strategist: Yes, well, first of all, the calm Donald Trump may RSVP 02:39.333 --> 02:42.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% to the debate, but I think we all know he's probably not going to stay around very long. 02:42.566 --> 02:44.033 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (LAUGHTER) 02:44.033 --> 02:46.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% GUY CECIL: Then the other Donald Trump will show up. 02:46.200 --> 02:49.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% But I think it's important for Joe Biden not to take the bait. Joe Biden's job is to do 02:49.466 --> 02:53.766 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% two things, one, talk directly to the American people about what he's done as president, and, 02:53.766 --> 02:56.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% two, remind them of what Donald Trump has done as president. 02:56.866 --> 03:00.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% We're in a unique situation. We have two former -- we have a current president 03:00.166 --> 03:02.633 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and a former president running against each other. And I think 03:02.633 --> 03:06.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% it's Joe Biden's job to make sure they remind him, what was Donald Trump like 03:06.466 --> 03:10.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% as president of the United States? And, more importantly, what will he do again? 03:10.200 --> 03:14.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So you will see them focus on the economy. You will see them focus on abortion. You 03:14.000 --> 03:17.633 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% will also see them focus on democracy and I think try to draw a very sharp 03:17.633 --> 03:22.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% contrast between what their two visions of American democracy looks like going forward. 03:22.433 --> 03:27.300 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% Trump's job is really just to do one thing, to try to distract Joe Biden. He may not be 03:27.300 --> 03:30.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% able to do it with a mic off, but he can certainly try to do it when the mic is 03:30.300 --> 03:33.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% on. And so I think you will see a lot of the same debate performance that you saw 03:33.533 --> 03:38.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% from him in that first debate last time they both ran, which is attack, attack the family. 03:40.566 --> 03:42.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I think you will see a lot of attacks on the family. I think you will see a lot of 03:42.766 --> 03:46.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% attacks on immigration issues. And I think it's important that Joe Biden responds. Remember, 03:48.500 --> 03:53.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% it was Donald Trump that killed the most recent immigration bill that was on the House floor, 03:55.266 --> 03:57.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% not Joe Biden, and so I think continuing to draw that contrast. 03:57.566 --> 03:59.933 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Finally, I think we all know it's important for Joe Biden 03:59.933 --> 04:02.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to be strong in his presentation. I mean, frankly, the two voters 04:02.600 --> 04:06.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% you interviewed could replace the two of us in terms of their debate analysis tonight. 04:06.200 --> 04:08.400 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (LAUGHTER) 04:08.400 --> 04:10.133 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% GUY CECIL: Because I think they really nailed what most Americans are going to be looking for. 04:10.133 --> 04:11.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% AMNA NAWAZ: When you say strong, you mean in terms of presentation... 04:11.866 --> 04:13.766 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% GUY CECIL: Yes, I think... 04:13.766 --> 04:15.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: ... overcoming that feebleness narrative, as the voter said. 04:15.600 --> 04:16.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% GUY CECIL: We saw the response in the State of the Union, right... 04:16.300 --> 04:18.400 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% AMNA NAWAZ: Yes. 04:18.400 --> 04:20.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% GUY CECIL: ... when he was focused, he was talking to the American people. He also, 04:20.133 --> 04:23.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% frankly, had the MAGA Republicans in the House to play off of... 04:23.200 --> 04:25.500 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% AMNA NAWAZ: Yes. 04:25.500 --> 04:27.833 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% GUY CECIL: ... and their response to him. He will have that again in Donald Trump. In many ways, 04:27.833 --> 04:31.800 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% Trump is the perfect foil for Joe Biden's sort of steady approach to governing and politics. 04:34.166 --> 04:35.800 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% AMNA NAWAZ: Amy, tell us more about the people who are tuning in. We know there's a lot of interest. 04:35.800 --> 04:38.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% AMY WALTER, The Cook Political Report: Yes. 04:38.000 --> 04:40.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: We know folks are unsatisfied with the candidates. But who are they speaking to? 04:40.033 --> 04:43.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Are there people out there whose minds can be changed by tonight? 04:43.466 --> 04:46.633 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% AMY WALTER: I don't know. I think the key for this debate, 04:46.633 --> 04:51.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% especially if you're Biden -- because he is starting off behind in this race, 04:51.000 --> 04:56.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% according to where we are in the polling. So he needs to change the trajectory of this race from 04:58.066 --> 05:01.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% one that is only about Joe Biden and what he's done for the last four years, and specifically 05:03.733 --> 05:07.000 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% where he has fallen short on inflation and on immigration, and put the focus onto this choice. 05:09.266 --> 05:14.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Make it less of a referendum, more of a choice between these two candidates, everything that 05:16.433 --> 05:19.333 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% Kevin and guy were just discussing about, the ways in which Donald Trump's personality can 05:22.200 --> 05:27.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% overwhelm the stage and remind people who had voted for Biden before why they voted for him. 05:30.700 --> 05:34.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% To me, the group of people that are going to be the most important for this 05:34.266 --> 05:38.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% debate -- we're only in June -- are the people who voted for Joe Biden in 2020, 05:38.733 --> 05:43.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% but are on the fence about him right now. Those are the folks who Joe Biden should be able to 05:45.766 --> 05:50.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% get back into his camp. We know in polling that we have done, they make up about one 05:52.300 --> 05:55.933 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% in five voters right now in the swing state, so it's a not-insignificant group of people. 05:58.366 --> 06:01.600 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% But they are more interested in hearing about the economy and also immigration. So, while abortion, 06:03.533 --> 06:08.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I think will be an issue and is something that President Biden has going for him, 06:10.166 --> 06:12.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% these are voters -- the reason I think they're sitting in undecided right now, 06:12.166 --> 06:16.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% they're not sticking with Biden is that they are frustrated with the cost of things. 06:16.200 --> 06:19.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And they need to hear from the president how he's 06:19.300 --> 06:24.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% going to make things better. And Trump needs to do the same thing. Remember, 06:26.433 --> 06:29.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% we -- this is the first time. Have we ever had a candidate who was the challenger who's come 06:29.600 --> 06:34.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% into a debate without having any debate? He didn't have any debates in the primary. 06:34.433 --> 06:38.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So, for many voters, they -- sure, they remember what he -- they may remember 06:38.866 --> 06:43.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% what he did back when he was president. But he hasn't had to set out any of his policies, 06:45.400 --> 06:48.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% answer questions about what he was going to do in a new term. 06:48.500 --> 06:50.600 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: And to see them side by side for the first time. 06:50.600 --> 06:51.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% AMY WALTER: That's right. AMNA NAWAZ: Voters get to see them that way too. 06:51.900 --> 06:53.433 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% AMY WALTER: Yes. 06:53.433 --> 06:55.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: We have got a minute-and-a-half or so left. 06:55.700 --> 06:57.866 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% And I want to ask each of you, because you have been in these rooms. You know what it is to get 06:57.866 --> 07:02.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% ready for this moment. Everyone seems to know a lot about both of these candidates already. 07:02.200 --> 07:06.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% They're not tuning in to learn something new. So what is it that the campaigns are sending 07:06.933 --> 07:11.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% out with the candidates tonight in these final hours before they go before the American people? 07:11.833 --> 07:13.133 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Kevin, what's the message? 07:13.133 --> 07:15.166 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% KEVIN MADDEN: Well, I think, first of all, 07:15.166 --> 07:18.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% there's two rules of any debate. And it's you win or lose these in the first 30 minutes. 07:20.166 --> 07:22.133 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% So it's really important to come out very strong. I think, secondly, 07:22.133 --> 07:24.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% if you're not on offense, you're losing. So, 07:24.133 --> 07:27.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I expect both candidates will come out and be very aggressive against each other. 07:27.933 --> 07:31.500 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% The last thing I'd say is that the candidate that wins presidential races is the candidate 07:31.500 --> 07:36.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that answers the question affirmatively, is this candidate on my side? That's the 07:36.066 --> 07:39.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% key sort of rhetorical sort of touchstone that the candidates, 07:39.866 --> 07:42.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I think, are going to try to deploy in a lot of their efforts tonight. 07:42.666 --> 07:44.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% GUY CECIL: And I think that's what you have seen the Biden campaign do. 07:44.933 --> 07:48.833 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% Everything leading up to this debate in terms of campaign messaging has been about Joe Biden 07:48.833 --> 07:52.633 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% being on the side of the middle class and the working class and the American people, 07:52.633 --> 07:56.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and Donald Trump being on the side of, well, himself and the very wealthy. 07:59.100 --> 08:01.700 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% The fact that we have a presidential candidate that will arrive with more felony convictions than 08:01.700 --> 08:05.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% presidential debates or difficult interviews leading up to the first debate, I think, 08:05.433 --> 08:08.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% is going to be a pretty important point as they go back and forth. 08:08.366 --> 08:11.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% AMNA NAWAZ: We're just hours away from the debate. We will watch and we will see. 08:11.466 --> 08:14.633 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Kevin Madden, Guy Cecil, Amy Walter, thank you so much. 08:14.633 --> 08:17.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% KEVIN MADDEN: Great to be with you. 08:17.033 --> 08:19.600 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% GEOFF BENNETT: And to watch the simulcast of the CNN presidential debate, with more reporting 08:19.600 --> 08:24.600 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% and analysis to follow, be sure to tune into PBS tonight at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. We will all be back.