CNN Debate rules finalized. Do they favor Biden and hurt Trump?

(VINnews) — The first 2024 presidential debate is scheduled to take place in about 10 days, in Atlanta, and the rules have been finalized. CNN says that there will be no opening statements, no live audience, and microphones will be muted at all times that it is not a candidate’s turn to speak. They claim this is meant to ensure “civilized” discourse.

However many Trump supporters, including VIN Podcast host Yaakov M, are concerned that the rules appear designed to give an advantage to Joe Biden, by allowing the leftist moderators to shut off Trump’s mic at will, as well as control the agenda.

CNN said debate moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash “will use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion” during the 90-minute broadcast from Atlanta.

CNN said both candidates will appear at a uniform podium during the 90-minute debate, podium positions will be determined by a coin flip and candidates will be given a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water but cannot use props.

“Microphones will be muted throughout the debate except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak,” CNN said.

During two commercial breaks, campaign staff will not be permitted to interact with their candidate, though it is not clear who will enforce it.

It is no secret the CNN moderators prefer Biden and despise Trump. It is not unlikely that they will focus the topics on Jan 6, Trump’s recent conviction, his indictments and claims of election interference, and other issues that are perceived as ‘anti-Trump’, while avoiding the border crisis, Iran, the economy, Hunter’s laptop, and the many (many!) other failures of President Biden.

Biden is intensely prepping for the debate. His campaign is blocking off much of the final week before the debate, after he returns from Europe and a California fund-raising swing, for structured preparations. Trump, on the other hand, likes to “wing it”, and always has a firm grasp on issues, and a clear and refreshing way of making strong points and slamming his opponents, despite having minimal if any formal preparation.

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll earlier this month, Biden is losing support among voters without college degrees, a large group that includes Black people, Hispanic women, young voters and suburban women.

CNN said that candidates eligible to participate must appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold needed to win and receive at least 15% in four separate national polls.

It said it was “not impossible” that independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr, could still qualify, saying he has received at least 15% in three qualifying polls to date and has qualified for the ballot in six states, making him eligible for 89 electoral college votes.

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