For the most part, tonight's debate revealed nothing new about what Biden and Trump think on major issues from the economy, immigration, foreign policy and reproductive rights.

Each candidate reiterated positions they've already touted countless times on the campaign stump.

Instead, they largely focused on criticizing each other's past records and lobbing personal attacks.

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Presidential debate highlights

In his two-minute closing argument, Trump went after Biden's record abroad in a personal attack.

"They don't respect you throughout the world," he said.

Trump said he had the largest tax cut and the largest regulation cuts in history, but the country is now "exploding."

"We're a failing nation, but it's not going to be failing anymore," he said. "We're going to make it great again."

Trump went to other topics when asked if he would accept the results of the 2024 election and had to be asked the question several times.

The former president finally responded, "If it's a fair and legal and good election absolutely," before adding that he would have accepted the last election if not for "the fraud." There was no evidence of widespread election fraud in the 2020 election.

Biden pushed back that Trump's fraud claims were debunked by courts, telling him, "You can't stand the loss."

"I doubt you'll accept it because you're a whiner," he said.

"We have made significant progress from the debacle that was left by President Trump in his last term," Biden said.

Biden then went on to summarize some of his signature policies. On the economy, he vowed he will not raise taxes on anyone making under $400,000 a year and to continue his work to reduce health care costs, child care costs and give families financial breathing room.

"We're going to continue to fight to bring down inflation and give people a break," Biden said in closing.

Millions of eyeballs will be on Thursday's debate -- here's what to watch for as Biden and Trump face off.

Will any gaffes or knockout punches break through? Conversations on policy are unlikely to break through, but viewers could remember a serious lapse or a zinger that lands.

Will character or policy rule the day? Both sides have lobbed personal attacks -- Biden has dubbed Trump a "convicted felon" and threat to democracy, and Trump has essentially called the president, without evidence, the leader of a crime syndicate. Will the debate stay focused on issues like abortion, immigration and the economy? Or will the two candidates opt for a more scorched-Earth stance?

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First-ever debate to take place between a sitting president and a former one

Typically, a sitting president is debating a governor or senator, with the incumbent's record the main focus. But Trump also spent four years in the White House. Whose record will get more scrutiny?

The debate is happening uniquely early in an election cycle. It remains unclear if any big moments will be washed away by November, or if it'll help set the tone heading into the summer.

The debate is also featuring a novel format -- microphones will be cut off when candidates aren't recognized to speak, and there will be no audience to feed off of. That could deprive Trump of the energy he seeks, helping Biden. But the microphone cutoffs could help "enforce some discipline" on Trump, said GOP strategist David Kochel.

Read more here.