Seven things I hope Joe Biden does

The TD Joe Higgins once described debating with Bertie Ahern as like “playing handball against a haystack”. I was trying to think of a good analogy for debating with Donald Trump and the best I can come up with is that it will be like going head to head with Homer Simpson. 

 According to Wikipedia: “The comic efficacy of Homer's personality lies in his frequent bouts of bumbling stupidity, laziness and his explosive anger. He is described by director David Silverman as "creatively brilliant in his stupidity”…….. His short attention span is evidenced by his impulsive decisions to engage in various hobbies and enterprises, only to "change ... his mind when things go badly".

So how do you approach a debate with a Homer. Here’s what I’d like to see Biden do.

1.     Remember -empathy, empathy, empathy. What distinguishes Biden from Trump is that more people like him than like Trump. Even in the toughest exchanges, he needs show warmth and decency, and a little humility.

2.     Consistently paint Trump as divisive. Even when under strong personal attack, Biden should appear calm and measured, almost mocking Trump’s fake outrage.

3.     Be accurate. Without coming across too technocratic have some reasonably precise figures – “as we came on air 204,450 US citizens have died from Covid”. Trump never uses accurate numbers -all generalisations.

4.     Hammer the hammer. The policy of successive and successful Kerry Footballers- go for your opponent’s strength. Trump’s strength in polling lies in the economy. Biden needs to have his attack best lines on Trump’s economic management.

5.     Deliver your zingers early. Trump is actually very predictable. If he’s done any debate prep, he will have used the same lines in recent press briefings. Biden should be ready with 5/6 key rebuttals. Don’t wait for a better moment. If you get an early chance to use a zinger-go for it.

6.     Ask simple questions

Trump likes to assert his opinions as fact - “People know its fake news”, “You all know …”. So, Biden should ask Trump simple questions like- "who says that, what report said that, what independent expert says that? Just give me three credible names. Exactly how much tax did you pay in 2016, because I paid $xx,”

Jonathon Swan used this device to great effect in his TV interview in June

Trump: There are those that say, you can test too much. You do know that.

Swan: Who says that?

Trump: Oh, just read the manuals. Read the books.

Swan: Manuals? What manuals?

Trump: Read the books. Read the books.

Swan: What books?

7.     Lay a trap and then spring the trap. For example, Trump will raise Biden’s son - Hunter. Biden could say -we’re here to debate our suitability. Trump will smell a weakness and pursue Hunter…at which point Biden says "Ok let’s talk about family. Let’s talk about my late son who served his country, let’s talk about my son who works to build businesses and pays his taxes. Let’s talk about your family that the US taxpayer is supporting….. "

Joe Biden goes into this debate in the leads in the polls. He doesn’t need to “win” the debate. The rival camps and networks will spin so much afterwards that each side will convince itself and its core that it won. Success for Biden would be that he displayed the characteristics that have already swayed people to vote for him and that he gives “soft” republicans the permission to switch away from Trump in November.

He might remind the American people that Homer got it wrong when he said "Stupidity got us into this mess, and stupidity will get us out.”