[US Presidential Debate] More Restrained Atmosphere Than the 1st Round... "Trump Reality Show Failure"

Biden's Attempted Fierce Attack in the Economic Sector
Backfires as COVID-19 and North Korea Policy Failures Are Highlighted Instead

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The final TV debate between U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was generally conducted in a calmer atmosphere than the first debate, leading to assessments that President Trump lost the initiative. President Trump, mindful of the votes of middle-class and above white voters considered key swing voters, ended the debate more politely, but as a result, it was difficult for him to employ his specialty of rapid attacks in a reality show-like atmosphere. Rather, the media analyzed that Biden, who took the lead, highlighted failures in COVID-19 prevention and North Korea policy, concluding the debate in a disadvantageous position for Trump.

According to foreign media such as CNN, in the final presidential debate held on the night of the 22nd (local time), President Trump and candidate Biden clashed over six topics: ▲COVID-19 response ▲family ▲racial issues ▲climate change ▲national security ▲leadership, continuing the debate in a calmer atmosphere compared to the first debate. CNN stated, "Since it was the final TV debate, both presidential campaigns focused on a more polite atmosphere than the first debate, targeting key swing voters such as middle-class and above white male voters," adding, "However, this atmosphere likely made it difficult for Trump, who led the debate with rapid tempo and reality show-like attacks including personal attacks and interruptions in the first debate, to create the dramatic reversal he desired."

The Washington Post (WP) evaluated that the microphone mute function, applied differently from the first debate, blocked President Trump's specialty of interrupting the opponent's speech, instead providing Biden with an opportunity to calmly rebut. WP stated, "President Trump mainly attacked Biden on economic issues, claiming 'If Biden is elected, the stock market will collapse,' but Biden was able to respond appropriately by saying 'Wall Street's interests are not connected to Main Street (the real economy),' so Trump's offensive did not work well. The microphone mute function worked against Trump."

Regarding the COVID-19 response, Biden was assessed to have significantly outperformed Trump. The New York Times (NYT) positively evaluated, "President Trump repeated statements similar to those made during his campaign that a vaccine will soon be available and the situation will improve, but Biden showed a stronger stance than before by saying, 'We are entering a dark winter, but Trump has no plan,' and 'Someone responsible for so many deaths should no longer be president. I will end this situation.'"

North Korea issues also became a major point of attack for Biden. President Trump praised himself, saying, "I have a good relationship with Chairman Kim, and there has been no war with North Korea," and repeated his previous claim that if war had occurred, millions would have died. In response, Biden fiercely criticized, "President Trump has legitimized North Korea, enabling them to possess missiles with greater capabilities that can reach U.S. territory more easily than ever." He continued, "Trump boasts about being friendly with thugs like Chairman Kim," strongly condemning him.