1 00:00:01,700 --> 00:00:03,533 AMNA NAWAZ: All right, let's turn now to our panel of analysts. 2 00:00:03,533 --> 00:00:05,833 Guy and Kevin, I'm going to ask you to jump in here from your perspectives, 3 00:00:05,833 --> 00:00:10,500 because, as Lisa referenced, our poll has shown the majority of registered voters are 4 00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:13,733 unsatisfied with these two candidates, right? And it's across both parties, 5 00:00:13,733 --> 00:00:18,300 51 percent of Democrats, 42 percent of Republicans, 70 percent of independents. 6 00:00:18,300 --> 00:00:21,266 Kevin, how much of tonight is about the candidates 7 00:00:21,266 --> 00:00:24,466 calming those concerns just within their own parties? 8 00:00:24,466 --> 00:00:28,466 KEVIN MADDEN, Republican Strategist: Well, look, I think you probably have about 95 percent of the 9 00:00:28,466 --> 00:00:32,433 audience tonight is going to be tuning in with a rooting interest. Like, even if they're not 10 00:00:32,433 --> 00:00:36,433 happy with the candidates and they wish somebody else was running, they're probably more inclined 11 00:00:36,433 --> 00:00:40,366 to already vote for -- if they already are leaning Republican or leaning Democrat. 12 00:00:40,366 --> 00:00:45,333 And so this debate has more of an opportunity for that 4 to 5 percent that hasn't not yet 13 00:00:47,233 --> 00:00:49,500 made up their mind. And while a lot of the candidates are going to be trying 14 00:00:49,500 --> 00:00:52,133 to juice their base and remind that -- as one voter said, like, 15 00:00:52,133 --> 00:00:56,033 remind everybody that they're the fighter and that they're the candidate that they 16 00:00:56,033 --> 00:00:59,933 need to get out for, we still have those voters that have not made up their mind. 17 00:00:59,933 --> 00:01:04,500 And that is the issue sets that those voters care about. These candidates 18 00:01:04,500 --> 00:01:09,500 now have an opportunity to talk directly to those voters about those issues. For Trump, 19 00:01:11,566 --> 00:01:14,600 it's voters -- motivating these voters on immigration and inflation, things like the 20 00:01:16,700 --> 00:01:19,266 economic sentiments that they have right now, the anxiety that they have about the economy. 21 00:01:19,266 --> 00:01:24,266 He has to speak very directly to those voters on those concerns. And as we heard earlier, 22 00:01:26,033 --> 00:01:29,866 for Biden, I think a lot of this is reminding voters about the January 6 23 00:01:31,866 --> 00:01:34,900 Donald Trump and the chaos that he brings and raising the stakes of the election, 24 00:01:37,166 --> 00:01:40,300 so that not only do his base voters get out, but those swing voters in suburban areas around this 25 00:01:40,300 --> 00:01:43,766 country take a second thought on whether or not they really want to support Trump. 26 00:01:43,766 --> 00:01:47,366 And they can be reminded that Joe Biden is the candidate that 27 00:01:47,366 --> 00:01:50,133 has always put himself forward as the candidate of stability, 28 00:01:50,133 --> 00:01:55,100 somebody who can bring people together in the country. And then, lastly, I think the 29 00:01:57,300 --> 00:01:59,833 issue of abortion. This is an issue where Joe Biden feels he can draw the hardest contrast. 30 00:02:01,833 --> 00:02:04,633 And it's also an issue where, right now, the Republicans are in disarray on this 31 00:02:04,633 --> 00:02:09,300 issue legislatively, with trying to find a cohesive message. And I think drawing that 32 00:02:09,300 --> 00:02:13,100 contrast. And some of these swing voters in the state where a lot of these debates about 33 00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:18,100 abortion are had against the backdrop of some -- what many voters would see as extreme policies, 34 00:02:20,166 --> 00:02:22,866 that's his best chance to really motivate those voters to get out on Election Day for him. 35 00:02:22,866 --> 00:02:26,966 So this is a -- one of those moments where everything in the political world stops. 36 00:02:26,966 --> 00:02:28,766 AMNA NAWAZ: Yes. KEVIN MADDEN: And for one moment, one night, 37 00:02:28,766 --> 00:02:33,000 90 minutes, you have the concentrated attention of these swing voters. 38 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,866 AMNA NAWAZ: Guy, how do you look at it? What does President Biden have to do tonight? 39 00:02:35,866 --> 00:02:39,333 GUY CECIL, Democratic Strategist: Yes, well, first of all, the calm Donald Trump may RSVP 40 00:02:39,333 --> 00:02:42,566 to the debate, but I think we all know he's probably not going to stay around very long. 41 00:02:42,566 --> 00:02:44,033 (LAUGHTER) 42 00:02:44,033 --> 00:02:46,200 GUY CECIL: Then the other Donald Trump will show up. 43 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,466 But I think it's important for Joe Biden not to take the bait. Joe Biden's job is to do 44 00:02:49,466 --> 00:02:53,766 two things, one, talk directly to the American people about what he's done as president, and, 45 00:02:53,766 --> 00:02:56,866 two, remind them of what Donald Trump has done as president. 46 00:02:56,866 --> 00:03:00,166 We're in a unique situation. We have two former -- we have a current president 47 00:03:00,166 --> 00:03:02,633 and a former president running against each other. And I think 48 00:03:02,633 --> 00:03:06,466 it's Joe Biden's job to make sure they remind him, what was Donald Trump like 49 00:03:06,466 --> 00:03:10,200 as president of the United States? And, more importantly, what will he do again? 50 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:14,000 So you will see them focus on the economy. You will see them focus on abortion. You 51 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,633 will also see them focus on democracy and I think try to draw a very sharp 52 00:03:17,633 --> 00:03:22,433 contrast between what their two visions of American democracy looks like going forward. 53 00:03:22,433 --> 00:03:27,300 Trump's job is really just to do one thing, to try to distract Joe Biden. He may not be 54 00:03:27,300 --> 00:03:30,300 able to do it with a mic off, but he can certainly try to do it when the mic is 55 00:03:30,300 --> 00:03:33,533 on. And so I think you will see a lot of the same debate performance that you saw 56 00:03:33,533 --> 00:03:38,533 from him in that first debate last time they both ran, which is attack, attack the family. 57 00:03:40,566 --> 00:03:42,766 I think you will see a lot of attacks on the family. I think you will see a lot of 58 00:03:42,766 --> 00:03:46,333 attacks on immigration issues. And I think it's important that Joe Biden responds. Remember, 59 00:03:48,500 --> 00:03:53,500 it was Donald Trump that killed the most recent immigration bill that was on the House floor, 60 00:03:55,266 --> 00:03:57,566 not Joe Biden, and so I think continuing to draw that contrast. 61 00:03:57,566 --> 00:03:59,933 Finally, I think we all know it's important for Joe Biden 62 00:03:59,933 --> 00:04:02,600 to be strong in his presentation. I mean, frankly, the two voters 63 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,200 you interviewed could replace the two of us in terms of their debate analysis tonight. 64 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,400 (LAUGHTER) 65 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,133 GUY CECIL: Because I think they really nailed what most Americans are going to be looking for. 66 00:04:10,133 --> 00:04:11,866 AMNA NAWAZ: When you say strong, you mean in terms of presentation... 67 00:04:11,866 --> 00:04:13,766 GUY CECIL: Yes, I think... 68 00:04:13,766 --> 00:04:15,600 AMNA NAWAZ: ... overcoming that feebleness narrative, as the voter said. 69 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:16,300 GUY CECIL: We saw the response in the State of the Union, right... 70 00:04:16,300 --> 00:04:18,400 AMNA NAWAZ: Yes. 71 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:20,133 GUY CECIL: ... when he was focused, he was talking to the American people. He also, 72 00:04:20,133 --> 00:04:23,200 frankly, had the MAGA Republicans in the House to play off of... 73 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,500 AMNA NAWAZ: Yes. 74 00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:27,833 GUY CECIL: ... and their response to him. He will have that again in Donald Trump. In many ways, 75 00:04:27,833 --> 00:04:31,800 Trump is the perfect foil for Joe Biden's sort of steady approach to governing and politics. 76 00:04:34,166 --> 00:04:35,800 AMNA NAWAZ: Amy, tell us more about the people who are tuning in. We know there's a lot of interest. 77 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,000 AMY WALTER, The Cook Political Report: Yes. 78 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,033 AMNA NAWAZ: We know folks are unsatisfied with the candidates. But who are they speaking to? 79 00:04:40,033 --> 00:04:43,466 Are there people out there whose minds can be changed by tonight? 80 00:04:43,466 --> 00:04:46,633 AMY WALTER: I don't know. I think the key for this debate, 81 00:04:46,633 --> 00:04:51,000 especially if you're Biden -- because he is starting off behind in this race, 82 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:56,000 according to where we are in the polling. So he needs to change the trajectory of this race from 83 00:04:58,066 --> 00:05:01,500 one that is only about Joe Biden and what he's done for the last four years, and specifically 84 00:05:03,733 --> 00:05:07,000 where he has fallen short on inflation and on immigration, and put the focus onto this choice. 85 00:05:09,266 --> 00:05:14,266 Make it less of a referendum, more of a choice between these two candidates, everything that 86 00:05:16,433 --> 00:05:19,333 Kevin and guy were just discussing about, the ways in which Donald Trump's personality can 87 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:27,200 overwhelm the stage and remind people who had voted for Biden before why they voted for him. 88 00:05:30,700 --> 00:05:34,266 To me, the group of people that are going to be the most important for this 89 00:05:34,266 --> 00:05:38,733 debate -- we're only in June -- are the people who voted for Joe Biden in 2020, 90 00:05:38,733 --> 00:05:43,733 but are on the fence about him right now. Those are the folks who Joe Biden should be able to 91 00:05:45,766 --> 00:05:50,266 get back into his camp. We know in polling that we have done, they make up about one 92 00:05:52,300 --> 00:05:55,933 in five voters right now in the swing state, so it's a not-insignificant group of people. 93 00:05:58,366 --> 00:06:01,600 But they are more interested in hearing about the economy and also immigration. So, while abortion, 94 00:06:03,533 --> 00:06:08,333 I think will be an issue and is something that President Biden has going for him, 95 00:06:10,166 --> 00:06:12,166 these are voters -- the reason I think they're sitting in undecided right now, 96 00:06:12,166 --> 00:06:16,200 they're not sticking with Biden is that they are frustrated with the cost of things. 97 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,300 And they need to hear from the president how he's 98 00:06:19,300 --> 00:06:24,300 going to make things better. And Trump needs to do the same thing. Remember, 99 00:06:26,433 --> 00:06:29,600 we -- this is the first time. Have we ever had a candidate who was the challenger who's come 100 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:34,433 into a debate without having any debate? He didn't have any debates in the primary. 101 00:06:34,433 --> 00:06:38,866 So, for many voters, they -- sure, they remember what he -- they may remember 102 00:06:38,866 --> 00:06:43,866 what he did back when he was president. But he hasn't had to set out any of his policies, 103 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,500 answer questions about what he was going to do in a new term. 104 00:06:48,500 --> 00:06:50,600 AMNA NAWAZ: And to see them side by side for the first time. 105 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:51,900 AMY WALTER: That's right. AMNA NAWAZ: Voters get to see them that way too. 106 00:06:51,900 --> 00:06:53,433 AMY WALTER: Yes. 107 00:06:53,433 --> 00:06:55,700 AMNA NAWAZ: We have got a minute-and-a-half or so left. 108 00:06:55,700 --> 00:06:57,866 And I want to ask each of you, because you have been in these rooms. You know what it is to get 109 00:06:57,866 --> 00:07:02,200 ready for this moment. Everyone seems to know a lot about both of these candidates already. 110 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:06,933 They're not tuning in to learn something new. So what is it that the campaigns are sending 111 00:07:06,933 --> 00:07:11,833 out with the candidates tonight in these final hours before they go before the American people? 112 00:07:11,833 --> 00:07:13,133 Kevin, what's the message? 113 00:07:13,133 --> 00:07:15,166 KEVIN MADDEN: Well, I think, first of all, 114 00:07:15,166 --> 00:07:18,533 there's two rules of any debate. And it's you win or lose these in the first 30 minutes. 115 00:07:20,166 --> 00:07:22,133 So it's really important to come out very strong. I think, secondly, 116 00:07:22,133 --> 00:07:24,133 if you're not on offense, you're losing. So, 117 00:07:24,133 --> 00:07:27,933 I expect both candidates will come out and be very aggressive against each other. 118 00:07:27,933 --> 00:07:31,500 The last thing I'd say is that the candidate that wins presidential races is the candidate 119 00:07:31,500 --> 00:07:36,066 that answers the question affirmatively, is this candidate on my side? That's the 120 00:07:36,066 --> 00:07:39,866 key sort of rhetorical sort of touchstone that the candidates, 121 00:07:39,866 --> 00:07:42,666 I think, are going to try to deploy in a lot of their efforts tonight. 122 00:07:42,666 --> 00:07:44,933 GUY CECIL: And I think that's what you have seen the Biden campaign do. 123 00:07:44,933 --> 00:07:48,833 Everything leading up to this debate in terms of campaign messaging has been about Joe Biden 124 00:07:48,833 --> 00:07:52,633 being on the side of the middle class and the working class and the American people, 125 00:07:52,633 --> 00:07:56,833 and Donald Trump being on the side of, well, himself and the very wealthy. 126 00:07:59,100 --> 00:08:01,700 The fact that we have a presidential candidate that will arrive with more felony convictions than 127 00:08:01,700 --> 00:08:05,433 presidential debates or difficult interviews leading up to the first debate, I think, 128 00:08:05,433 --> 00:08:08,366 is going to be a pretty important point as they go back and forth. 129 00:08:08,366 --> 00:08:11,466 AMNA NAWAZ: We're just hours away from the debate. We will watch and we will see. 130 00:08:11,466 --> 00:08:14,633 Kevin Madden, Guy Cecil, Amy Walter, thank you so much. 131 00:08:14,633 --> 00:08:17,033 KEVIN MADDEN: Great to be with you. 132 00:08:17,033 --> 00:08:19,600 GEOFF BENNETT: And to watch the simulcast of the CNN presidential debate, with more reporting 133 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:24,600 and analysis to follow, be sure to tune into PBS tonight at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. We will all be back.