ATLANTA — History has its eyes on Midtown Atlanta and the two candidates vying to win the 2024 presidential election.
Emory University political science professor Dr. Zachary Peskowitz said that in Thursday's debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, it's not necessarily what the candidates say but how they say it and how it comes across to viewers and voters.
"This is an historic first; the debate is taking place in June before the campaign has really kicked off in earnest, before the conventions," Peskowitz said. "There's always the opportunity for mudslinging and negative comments about the opposition. I think one thing both candidates are going to try and show is that they're mentally sharp, in command, and how they're going to be effective as president the next four years."
This debate, the first between both Biden and Trump in 2024, will not be spearheaded by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Instead, the hosts will make the rules and standards. CNN plans to host the debate in their Midtown Atlanta studios, just across the street from Georgia Tech. The media outlet plans to mute the candidates' microphones when it's not their turn to talk. For viewers looking for a civilized, policy-focused back-and-forth, Peskowitz said they should look at the history between the two contentious and familiar foes.
"Voters have seen both of these candidates as president before," Peskowitz said. "They have a lot of information about them. If they can surprise them and show a side of them they haven't seen before, that may be one way to get through and win the debate tomorrow night."
Peskowitz's path to victory, at least in this debate, comes down to dollars and cents for Biden and Trump keeping his composure.
"I think Biden is going to have to argue for his economic policies, empathize with voters who feel economic anxiety and pain, but make a proactive case for his policies," Peskowitz said. "It would be an effective night for him if he shows competence, discipline and the like, and maybe changes people's perceptions a little bit."
The former president will also have a felony conviction under his belt when he makes his way to town during a busy Thursday in Atlanta. Both Trump and Biden will need critical debate performances in Georgia, along with a strong and steady presence in the Peach State after the debate in an attempt to swing voters to their side in a critical swing state.
“Georgia’s going to be one of the five or six most critical swing states throughout the campaign," Peskowitz said. "This debate is important nationwide, but it’s particularly important in Georgia. Georgia is going to be one of the most important swing states in November, and it’s not surprising the debate is here. It’s an opportunity to get a big audience in Georgia and potentially persuade or change some votes in Georgia.”