The 2020 US Presidential Candidate Debate Rated Worst In History, Why?

JAKARTA - The first round of the debate on the candidates for President of the United States (US) has ended. In short, the debate was both horrendous and terrible. In fact, Donald Trump and Joe Biden are called the worst debates in US election history.

The debate that lasted for 90 minutes was not like a substantive presidential debate, containing a vision and mission contest, but rather like two people holding a grudge against each other, then met. Launching CNN, Wednesday, September 30, US political writer and commentator Chris Cilizza highlighted various aspects that took place during the debate.

First from Donald Trump. Cilizza said he saw nothing at all that could make a difference. Trump is considered too dominating the debate. But his dominance was due to Trump bullying, interrupting, or pushing Biden and moderator Chris Wallace at every turn.

"Of course it will strengthen their strongest supporters. But do you really think they need a debate show like this to be excited to vote for it? The interruption makes the debate completely unwatchable," Cilizza said.

Trump is also seen as making a series of strange claims. Not to mention false statements about his own and Biden's records. Trump deliberately misunderstands Biden's references to the military service of his late son, Beau Biden, so that he can attack Biden's other son, Hunter Biden.

In addition, Trump often implies that he does not agree with the debate rules which state that each presidential candidate must wait for his opponent to finish speaking. "A debate without rules is not a debate. Or rather a debate in which one candidate refuses to follow the rules is not a debate," Cilizza stressed.

Cilizza also criticized Biden. He considered Biden too slow. The answer to why a supreme court seat shouldn't be filled before an election is not straightforward to the point. In addition, Biden's explanation is considered very bad. Biden began to rise in the middle of the debate, especially when he stated that the mishandling of COVID-19 lay with Trump. Still, Biden too often allowed himself to be dragged into Trump's interruptions.

Meanwhile, the Democratic base undoubtedly rejoiced when Biden told Trump to shut up and call him a "clown." At the same time, however, that stance is not in line with Biden's core message of restoring courtesy and leadership in the White House.

"Biden too often plays with Trump with strange nicknames and claims. He forgets the first metaphor of arguing with a candidate like Donald Trump: Don't go down in the mud with a pig, because you both get dirty and the pigs love it," Cilizza said.

The moderator, Chris Wallace, did not escape criticism. Wallace is judged unable to explain Trump all the specifics about their position and policies that are not known about the debate. Wallace, who Cilizza praised as one of the best interviewers in political journalism, lost control of the debate in the first five minutes.

"He (Wallace) never came close to getting it back. The result was a screaming cross that harassed anyone trying to watch this disaster," Cilizza criticized.

There are still two meetings for debate between the two presidential candidates. The Presidential Debate Commission is a strong organization. Meanwhile campaign teams, both from Biden and Trump, know that this debate is attracting more attention than any other moment. The three parties are expected to be able to build a conversation after the debate that results in a decision on whether the public will join Team Biden or Team Trump.