The much anticipated first presidential debate of 2016 will take place Monday September 26th, beginning at 9pm ET. Trying to make predictions about the content of this debate is almost pointless; Donald Trump is likely to say whatever he feels like, and Hillary Clinton will be forced to play along. Still, big questions remain: Will we finally see the more presidential Trump promised to us in the post-primary stage? How will Secretary Clinton handle Trump’s attacks, and will she deal out any of her own? Will the entire debate turn into a Hunger Games style duel to the death?
This is an unprecedented debate that goes beyond anything seen before. This is beyond the Kennedy v. Nixon showdown, or even the Joe Biden v. Sarah Palin vice presidential debate of 2008. This is the first time in this nation’s history that we have a woman as a presidential candidate. Yet both candidates are perhaps better known for their low-polling trustworthiness, and citizens’ general dislike of them.
You may be wondering what the point of watching is. After all, many people have already made up their mind about who they will be voting for come November. However, there is also a significant portion of the population that has expressed interest in either voting third party, or not voting at all. I believe it is especially important for these people to tune in. This country is on a precipice, about to fall one way or another, and this election will shape its future. This debate will offer a chance to see how the presidential candidates from the two major political parties in the United States act, and what policies they choose to highlight. It’s also undeniable that the debate is likely to be good television. Any fans of “The Bachelor” or “Housewives of insert location here” should recognize the petty drama that is likely to surface. This is not to knock those shows, just to point out that we have now reached a point where the same drama we get on Bravo can be found on the national debate stage.
So, what should viewers be looking for? In a debate where anything goes, keeping track of what’s going on and what actual policies are being presented is sure to be a challenge. However, both candidates’ demeanors should be clearly noticeable, as well as their ability to field both challenging questions from the moderator, and challenging comments from each other. Keep an eye out for how the candidates answer questions regarding the recent shootings in Tulsa and Charlotte. I would also expect Trump to be pressured to provide more detailed policy proposals--but instead of answering those questions directly I expect to see him pivot and focus on targeting Secretary Clinton, particularly regarding her emails and Benghazi. Expect to see Clinton return fire regarding Trump’s refusal to release his taxes.
Above all, expect the unexpected.