This is not an uncommon practice for presidents as they approach a debate, as the demands of office can often lead to a certain degree of rustiness.
Biden, in particular, is not frequently challenged on his policy decisions or viewpoints, often remaining shielded within the confines of the White House or his Delaware residences, away from the probing eyes of the press corps. His interactions with the media are few and far between.
According to Hot Air, Biden is not alone in his retreat. A team of 16 aides accompanies him, acting as advisors in his debate preparation. This number seems excessive, transforming Camp David into a makeshift television production set. The site's movie theater and an airplane hangar have been equipped with lights and production gear to simulate a debate stage. These aides, both current and former, have been summoned from Washington and Wilmington to join Biden in strategy sessions, zipping back and forth on golf carts.
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Former President Trump, with his extensive television and stage experience, is no stranger to such preparations. Ron Klain, who aided Obama in his debate preparations following a poor performance against Mitt Romney in 2012, is managing Biden's preparations. The objective is to present Biden as the incumbent president and a capable counterpuncher.
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However, this is a challenging task, even for a seasoned Washington insider like Klain. Biden's ability to speak spontaneously or off-the-cuff in public has diminished. He relies heavily on a teleprompter and notecards prepared by his staff, aids he won't have access to during the debate. This forces him into unfamiliar territory, a stark contrast to Trump, who frequently speaks extemporaneously and can engage with reporters for extended periods.
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Biden's preparation also includes practicing standing for 90 minutes, the duration of the debate. His recent appearances at the G7 in Italy and the D-Day commemoration in France raised questions about his physical stamina. Despite this, Biden's surrogates insist he is 'sharp' and performing well in his preparations.
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David Axelrod, a former top strategist to Mr. Obama, acknowledged the rust factor, stating, “Neither of these guys is accustomed to having someone a few feet away, grilling them with no deference.” The planning at Camp David is flexible, with Biden and his trusted advisors focusing on refining and practicing what they deem necessary at any given moment.
Biden's team hopes he will remain focused on policy arguments and contrasting his policies with Trump's. This is a bold move, considering the disastrous outcomes of Biden's policies compared to the pre-pandemic success of Trump's America. Biden's campaign believes this will be an opportunity for him to take the offensive on issues like immigration and abortion. However, Biden's recent blanket amnesty plan for over 550,000 illegal aliens, while the southern border remains porous, has only added fuel to the fire. The question remains whether Biden can admit his mistakes since halting the border security programs of Trump's administration. Immigration and border security are top election issues, and Biden's handling of them has been tone-deaf at best.
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Bob Bauer, Biden's attorney, is reprising his role as Trump in the debate preparations at Camp David. In his book, “The Unraveling,” Bauer revealed that he studied hours of tapes of Trump as a businessman, candidate, and president before the 2020 debates. He aimed to use Trump's language on debate topics rather than creating a caricature of him.
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The team at Camp David includes Klain and Mike Donilon, the architect of the campaign’s theme that democracy is at stake if Trump wins. Other attendees include Steve Ricchetti, Jake Sullivan, Jeffrey D. Zients, Anita Dunn, Ben LaBolt, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Cedric Richmond, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Quentin Fulks, Michael Tyler, and Rob Flaherty. Brian Deese, who left the administration as director of the National Economic Council in 2023, is expected to assist Biden in refining his economic recovery pitch.
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This team, many of whom played roles in the perceived downfall of the country during the Biden administration, will be instrumental in advising Biden for the debate. The question remains whether Biden will remember their advice come Thursday night. A CNN panelist suggested that Biden needs to smile more. However, the real question is which version of Biden will show up for the debate: the angry, possibly medicated man who yelled throughout the State of the Union address, or the dazed and confused Biden who often stumbles through events? The answer will be revealed on Thursday night.
