He also needs to aggressively defend his record on issues like the economy and immigration, topics that many voters give him poor marks for.

Biden also wants to use the debate to draw an unflattering contrast with Trump, whom many voters now view more favorably than they did when he left office.

He will surely try to exploit Trump’s mercurial personality by baiting him into damaging statements, perhaps about his support for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, or his New York felony conviction and ongoing criminal trials.

How Trump could win

Trump first and foremost wants to appear more vigorous and dynamic than Biden.

The former president regularly brags to his crowds of loyal supporters of his mental sharpness, which he compares to Biden’s supposed decline, and he will want to showcase that perceived edge.

Trump will also hope to mock Biden’s ability to handle key problems faced by the nation, like immigration and inflation.

He could shock the world by delivering an even and controlled message that America needs a change after four years of Biden.

What could go wrong?

For Biden, a senior moment could dramatize his age in the worst possible way. It might harden the popular image of him as far past his shelf life for the White House.

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