Preview of the First Election Debate Between Trump and Clinton

A thrilling ninety-minute debate between Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, and Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, is set to take place, with a recent Washington Post and ABC News poll showing Clinton at 46% and Trump at 44%. Political observers say this first debate between the two main party candidates in the U.S. will be one of the most-watched political programs in the country's history, rivaling the Super Bowl with over eighty million viewers. One reason for the debate's appeal is the contrasting personalities and serious disagreements between the candidates on issues such as immigration, security, the economy, and women's rights. The debate will be held at Hofstra University in New York. According to a New York Times and CBS poll, 83% of registered voters indicated they would watch the debate, with many states preparing viewing parties or setting up street televisions for collective watching. Lester Holt from NBC will moderate the debate, which will focus on three main topics: America's future, upcoming economic growth plans, and national security strategies. Clinton's advisory team has spent considerable time preparing her for the debate, analyzing all angles and Trump's approach. Reuters reports that since over 20% of American voters are undecided about their choice, these debates could significantly alter the statistics and candidates' chances for ultimate victory, pushing both candidates to engage seriously. I ask Farhad Alavi, a Democratic political analyst, what Clinton should focus on to attract more public attention to her ideas and plans. He states, "In my opinion, Clinton has two goals tonight. Since there is less question about her qualifications for the presidency, she needs to show she is warm, honest, and relatable because there have been accusations that she is a cold politician with ethical issues. She must work to refute these claims while also demonstrating that Trump lacks the necessary capability for the presidency for three reasons: his radical views on racial issues and misogyny, his ethical problems involving false statistics and unverified information, and his unprecedented status in politics. Therefore, Clinton cannot choose to only talk about herself or refute Trump's statements." Trump, on the other hand, has stated he has not spent much time preparing for the debate and prefers to focus on his campaign activities, even participating in a campaign event last Saturday. Analysts suggest that Trump's strength lies in his high confidence when facing questions and criticisms from his opponent. Bijan Kian, a former member of the White House Business Council and a Republican, advises Trump on the approach he should take in the debate, saying, "What people are generally tired of is old rhetoric; the old promises of solving your problems and providing free education are things that people want to hear from one candidate, which is Clinton. In contrast, Trump may not be able to present issues with the details that Clinton, who is very experienced and has spent her life speaking with people, can. He will speak simply and directly, as he always has. I must say that Trump's promises are very limited." The debate will take place at 9 PM Eastern Time on Monday, October 5, and at 5:30 AM Tehran time on Tuesday, October 6.