President Biden and former President Donald Trump are gearing up for a highly anticipated showdown in Atlanta, Georgia this week, marking the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle. The upcoming debate, scheduled to take place at CNN’s studios on Thursday night, will be a unique event as it involves a sitting president and a former president facing off for the first time in a debate setting. Both men, who have already secured their parties’ nominations without participating in primary debates, are expected to engage in a heated exchange as they clash over their respective visions and records.

The decision to hold the debate between Biden and Trump came swiftly after the Biden campaign expressed willingness to engage in two debates with the former president prior to the November election. In a departure from the traditional setting overseen by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, the upcoming face-off will be sponsored by CNN, with strict rules in place to ensure a fair and orderly debate. The choice to eliminate an audience and strictly enforce rules during the debate was a response to the perceived lack of adherence to guidelines in the 2020 debates.

Moderated by anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, the 90-minute debate will feature two commercial breaks and stringent measures to maintain decorum. Each candidate will have two minutes to answer questions and, while one is speaking, the other’s microphone will be muted. With the debate structure in place and preparations underway, both candidates are expected to bring their A-game as they vie for the spotlight and attempt to sway voters with their respective messages.

In terms of debate preparation, President Biden has been conducting informal sessions with advisors and top aides at Camp David, gearing up for mock debates led by his personal attorney, Bob Bauer. On the other hand, Trump’s approach to debate prep has been more laid-back, consisting of private meetings with allies and public appearances on the campaign trail. The starkly different styles of preparation reflect each candidate’s approach to the debate and hint at the potential dynamics of the upcoming clash.

Following the debate, Trump is scheduled to attend a campaign event in Virginia, while Biden plans to rally supporters in North Carolina. The early timing of the debate, weeks ahead of the nominating conventions, sets the stage for an intense and early showdown between the candidates. With both candidates having secured enough delegates to clinch their nominations, the debate serves as a pivotal moment in the lead-up to the election, providing voters with a clear juxtaposition of the two candidates’ visions for the future.

In order to qualify for the debate, candidates had to meet stringent criteria set by CNN, including polling thresholds and ballot access requirements. The failure of other contenders to meet these criteria solidified the one-on-one debate between Biden and Trump, highlighting the significance and exclusivity of the upcoming matchup. With the stage set and preparations well underway, all eyes are on Atlanta as the nation awaits a riveting debate between two of the most prominent political figures in the country.