In a recent statement, Van Jones of CNN has declared that the upcoming presidential debate could be a make-or-break moment for President Joe Biden's reelection campaign.
According to the Daily Caller, Jones expressed his belief that a single misstep by Biden during the debate could spell the end of his campaign.
The rules and format for the 90-minute debate, scheduled for June 27 in Atlanta, were finalized by CNN on Saturday. The debate, which will pit Biden against former President Donald Trump, will feature muted microphones and no live studio audience. Jones, speaking on "CNN Newsroom," emphasized the significance of the event, stating that the entire world will be watching. He stressed the importance of a strong performance by Biden to secure his reelection.
Jones was quoted as saying, "This is the entire election, as far as Im concerned. The entire world will be watching. If you are a carbon-based life form, youre going to be watching. If youve got a functioning brain stem, youre going to be watching, because if Biden goes out there and messes up, its game over. If he walks out there and a week later, hes lower in the polls, its panic in the party."
Jones further elaborated on the high stakes of the debate, stating, "But if he goes in there and he can handle himself against Donald Trump, a runaway train, a locomotive, a raging bull, then this guy deserves another shot to be President because that is tough. You couldnt do it. I couldnt do it. If you can stand toe-to-toe with a runaway train like Donald Trump for an hour-and-a-half, you are fit to be President, period. Point-blank. This is the whole presidency in a bottle in a week."
Chris Cillizza, a former CNN political analyst, opined on Monday that the debate rules, particularly the muting of microphones, "clearly benefits Biden." He suggested that this rule could potentially disrupt Trump's strategy of unsettling his opponent. Cillizza also noted that the two commercial breaks scheduled during the debate could provide Biden with a chance to "regroup." He added that the absence of a studio audience could favor Biden, as Trump supporters are known for their vocal support and potential to influence the debate atmosphere.
However, Cillizza pointed out that one rule might favor Trump: the prohibition of pre-written notes. He suggested that Biden, who "struggles a little bit more when it comes to extemporaneous speaking," could appear "lost" without them. Jennifer Palmieri, a former Obama adviser and MSNBC contributor, expressed surprise that Trump accepted the debate, given that the rules seem to favor his opponent.
Jones also highlighted the challenges facing Biden, stating, "Bidens got two things working against him. One is the momentum is not there with them, but also hes got a full-time job. All Trumps got to do is sit up in court, not fall asleep and then go out there and say mean stuff about Biden. When you have a full-time job as demanding as a presidency and then have to turn on a dime and spend an hour-and-a-half arguing with somebody who has no responsibilities, that is a tough mental turn for anybody, even a young guy like Obama. So were going to see, but if Biden pulls that off, I think it will be impressive for that narrow slice of people who havent already made up their mind."
The upcoming debate promises to be a pivotal moment in the presidential campaign, with the potential to either bolster Biden's chances of reelection or signal the beginning of the end. The world will indeed be watching.
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