Trump-Biden presidential debate live updates: What time tonight, how to watch

Ahead of Thursday night's presidential debate, 538 and Ipsos are partnering to canvass voters. The aforesaid voters volition uncover however they consciousness astir the matchup betwixt President Joe Biden and erstwhile President Donald Trump earlier and aft the statement to measurement immoderate changes successful nationalist opinion.

Early results earlier the statement amusement expectations are comparatively debased for some candidates, but particularly for Biden. On average, apt voters gave Biden an expectations people of 2.58 retired of 5, portion they gave Trump 2.96 retired of 5.

Almost precisely the aforesaid stock of apt voters said they were considering voting for Biden (44.5%) arsenic said they were considering voting for Trump (44.8%). Meanwhile, 18.5% of apt voters said they were considering autarkic campaigner Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who failed to suffice for the debate.

Read much connected polling here.

Just due to the fact that their microphones volition beryllium turned connected lone erstwhile it's their crook to speak, it doesn't mean determination won't beryllium interruptions, and run staffers of some candidates are preparing for it.

Since the candidates are inactive lone 8 feet apart, determination is simply a script wherever the spectator whitethorn not perceive an interruption, but the different campaigner and the moderators will.

Advisers from some campaigns told reporters that's thing they've acknowledged oregon discussed successful statement preparations.

The Biden run said it is hoping the president conscionable flat-out ignores immoderate distractions oregon comments that Trump makes.

The Trump run said it is alert that contiguous they could play this some ways: The erstwhile president could enactment connected connection erstwhile his microphone is turned connected but marque off-hand comments to irk Biden erstwhile his microphone is turned off.

When it comes to the accepted handshake betwixt the candidates earlier the event, some sides are being coy.

One Biden advisor said, "I wouldn't bash it," portion an advisor for the Trump run responded simply by laughing.

To conscionable CNN's statement qualifications, candidates had to look connected capable authorities ballots to scope the 270 electoral ballot threshold needed to triumph the presidency. Also, they indispensable person astatine slightest 15% successful 4 abstracted nationalist polls of registered oregon apt voters that conscionable CNN's standards for reporting.

CNN announced connected Thursday that Biden and Trump met those requirements -- meaning third-party campaigner Robert F. Kennedy Jr. won't marque it connected the stage.

Aside from a livestreamed effect to the debate, Kennedy has thing connected his nationalist docket for the coming weeks. Nor does his moving mate, philanthropist Nicole Shanahan.

Biden and Trump volition basal astatine lecterns decided earlier by a coin flip. Their microphones volition beryllium muted unless it is simply a candidate's crook to speak, CNN said, which is apt to bounds however overmuch the candidates tin interrupt each other.

Though it's yet not wide who volition power the quality to mute the candidates' microphones, the moderators "will usage each tools astatine their disposal to enforce timing and guarantee a civilized discussion," according to the network.

MORE | Will muted mics, different rules marque a quality successful tonight's debate?

This operation of photos amusement President Donald Trump, left, and erstwhile Vice President Joe Biden during the archetypal statesmanlike statement connected Sept. 29, 2020, successful Cleveland, Ohio.

According to CNN's rules, Biden and Trump won't beryllium allowed to usage immoderate props oregon pre-written notes, but volition beryllium fixed paper, a pen and water. Their run staffs volition not beryllium allowed to interact with them during the debate.

There volition beryllium nary opening statements. The coin flip determined Biden would basal astatine the podium to the viewer's right, portion Trump would present the last closing statement.

Going without a unrecorded assemblage was important to the Biden campaign, but besides to CNN. The network's municipality hallway with Trump successful 2023 was panned successful ample portion due to the fact that of the beingness of Trump partisans.