The moment speaks to how unusual this debate will be and the challenge for moderatorsJake TapperandDana Bash.
Related Stories
How to Watch the First 2024 Presidential Debate: Is It Streaming?
On Monday, the situation reached the point wherethe web link issued a statementdefending the two.
(L-R) Donald Trump and President Joe BidenGetty Images
Many may be seeing the debates in the short clips and statements that travel on social media.
Those are the persuadable voters.
There arent a lot of them, but they will determine the outcome here, Schroeder said.
Jake Tapper and Dana Bash earlier this year at CNN’s Republican presidential primary debateJim Watson / AFP via Getty Images
Tapper and Bash were not available for comment, and have been off air this week as they prepare.
With the 90-minute runtime, every question asked will leave out ones not asked, displeasing some constituency.
Any fact-checks will be weighed against moments where there were none at all.
All of that just raises the pressure and the importance of this debate.
Theyre going to be watching that for 90 minutes to figure that out.
Does Donald Trump not have the character to be president?
Thats different from trying to get them to admit something theyve never did before.
It is a much broader kind of goal.
And thats one reason…it increases the imperative to stay out of the way.
It raises the bar for doing any fact-checking.
Past moderators emphasize how much the debates should be about the candidates, not themselves.
If the debate is a good one, those are the things that would come out.
Schieffer also said valuable moments come when the candidates are able to fact-check each other.
That is when it is the most powerful, and that is when you are able to learn more.
Biden finally told Trump, Will you shut up man?
But that notion quickly dissipated as Trump would not stop, leading to a debate that Wallace called awful.
That could help Tapper and Bash keep the proceedings moving and under control.
Schieffer said Wallace wasnt to blame for the chaotic first 2020 debate.
He did the best he could.
And I think it is probably going to be a good thing.
We will hear more from the candidates.
Tapper and Bash will have other rules to enforce.
If someone goes over that time, it will be up to the moderators when to cut them off.
Its also still possible that Trump could interrupt just without a mic but loud enough to throw Biden off.
Because otherwise they will appear to be battling Trump and letting Biden off the hook.
Another caution for the two: Be prepared for a direct Trump assault on CNN and them.
Its so difficult now, because people dont know where to turn, Schieffer said.
They dont know who to trust.
You and I know.
