Republicans Play Up Expectations For Trump After Pelosi Calls For No Debates

TOPLINE

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at a press conference on Thursday that she doesn’t think the Biden campaign should go forward with plans to have the former vice president debate President Trump in the fall in order to avoid “legitimizing a conversation” with him.

KEY FACTS

Crucial Quote

“President Trump’s passion, energy, and debate skills are unmatched. It’s no surprise that Pelosi wants to keep Biden in the basement,” tweeted House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in an unusual break from typical pre-debate strategy in which campaigns downplay expectations for their candidates.

Key Background

The Trump campaign has frequently cast Biden as scared to debate despite Trump’s own wavering on the debates and his efforts to have a fourth debate with friendly moderators and move the debates earlier. The campaign has run ads disparaging Biden’s rhetorical abilities and mental health, with Trump frequently referring to him as “Slow Joe” and “Sleepy Joe.” Trump even went as far to call for drug testing before the debates, outlandishly claiming Biden used performance enhancing drugs in a March debate with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

What To Watch For

The Trump campaign has begun attempting to undo the lowered expectations for Biden – which, some commentators noted, likely boosted the public reception to Biden’s strongly delivered DNC speech last Thursday. “Joe Biden is actually a very good debater. He doesn’t have as many gaffes as he does in his everyday interviews,” Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller told the Washington Post earlier this month.