Media Tip Sheets

First Presidential Debate 2024: What to Watch

Monday, June 24, 2024, By Ellen Mbuqe

The first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump for the 2024 elections is this week. Syracuse University experts are available to discuss the issues facing the candidates.

Grant Reeher, professor of political science at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, said he will be evaluating how Biden and Trump can overcome perceptions around age and mental acuity.

  • “For the debate, I’ll be looking for whether former President Trump tries to become more ‘presidential’ in any respect, though the campaign trail would suggest the answer to that is no. I’ll also be looking, as will every media source, for some indication on the age and mental competence issue, as it concerns both of them,” said Reeher.
Joshua Darr, associate professor of communications in the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, said he’d be curious if either candidate could get a few laughs.
  • “I’d be interested in which candidate will use humor most effectively. This is not an election that the country is excited about; neither candidate is particularly popular; both candidates are older. The classic similar moment is Reagan in 1984 saying that he ‘wouldn’t make Mondale’s youth and inexperience into an issue’ when the moderator brought up age. Can Biden get in some good lines? Will Trump be willing to say some of the trash talk he says at his rallies to Biden’s face, and can Biden come back if he does? Humor—intentional or not (see Romney/Obama 2012)—often defines how these debates are perceived and what sticks with people,” said Darr.
To arrange an interview with either expert, please contact Ellen James Mbuqe, executive director of media relations at Syracuse University, at ejmbuqe@syr.edu.