Former President Donald Trump is being warned to avoid debate pitfalls Thursday that could weaken his standing with voters, particularly critical independents and moderate Republicans who remain on the fence about the former president. Mr. Trump’s supporters say he will be ambushed when he debates President Biden for 90 minutes at an event moderated by two CNN hosts who have compared him to Hitler and called his first term in office a “nightmare.
” Strategists say the former president can win the debate, but only if he avoids a few significant mistakes. 1. Avoid getting too ugly.
Mr. Biden will likely take personal jabs at Mr. Trump over his felony convictions and 2020 loss to try to bait him.
Mr. Trump should avoid punching back harder, strategists say. He should also avoid discussing the legal entanglements of Mr.
Biden’s son Hunter Biden. Arguments that become too personal could turn off wavering voters who are skittish after Mr. Trump’s convictions in New York and whose support could determine the winner of critical battleground states.
“Polling indicates that he has suffered some damage from the conviction among voters who were neither Republicans nor Democrats,” Democratic political strategist Hank Sheinkopf said. “If it looks like he’s acting in an outrageous fashion, that can only injure him.” The president’s son was convicted of gun violations and is now facing prosecution on tax fraud charges, but Mr.
Sheinkopf said Mr. Trump should stick to cri.
