Sparks have flown over abortion rights as the first debate of the 2024 presidential campaign between Joe Biden and Donald Trump gets underway.
The current president refuted Trump’’ claim that abortion activists want to allow children to be killed after birth, saying the only situation where late-term abortion is permitted – before birth, at nine months of gestation – is where there is a risk to the mother’s life.
Biden could be seen speaking during Trump’s allotted minute. But he couldn’t be heard, because broadcaster CNN has decided to mute the microphone of each candidate while the other spoke.
The first third of the debate has already covered topics as diverse as unemployment, the COVID-19 pandemic, economy and undocumented migration.
But it’s abortion rights that have proved most firey, after the 2022 Supreme Court decision which overturned Roe v Wade and ended constitutional protection for abortion.
The 90-minute televised debate airs on CNN at 9pm local time and is expected to draw millions of viewers. In Australia, viewers can from 11am (AEST).
The debate is happening far earlier than normal — more than four months before the 5 November election — and is also the first between a former and sitting president.
Biden and Trump are the de facto preferred candidates, but neither party has officially nominated them yet.
Broadcaster CNN is implementing a number of measures to try and contain potential disruption.
The debate will take place without a live studio audience.
More controversially, reporters from the White House press pool won’t be allowed inside the studio during the debate.
It’s extremely rare for these reporters — who represent major news organisations and usually accompany the president on trips and at public appearances — to be barred from an event.
Amid deep polarisation, political anxiety and deadlocked opinion polls in the US, each candidate will try and convince voters they are the best bet for president.
Trump, 78, who still faces a trio of criminal cases — including his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
He is expected to focus on high inflation and record migration of people without documents during the Biden presidency. The president’s global leadership during the wars in Ukraine and Gaza will also likely be scrutinised.
After months of Republic assertions he is too old for the job, Biden, 81, will be under pressure to give a forceful performance with no verbal stumbles.
