1st presidential debate between Trump and Biden spirals into chaotic clash

ABC News’ Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl talked through what a typical lead-up to a presidential debate looks like with "ABC News Live Prime" anchor Linsey Davis.

Normally, Karl said a candidate talks about how tremendous a debater his opponent is, hoping to make himself look better during the debate. But Trump’s strategy has been different from years past, trying to downplay Biden instead of build him up.

“For months, Donald Trump has done exactly the opposite -- making it sound like, you know, Joe Biden is somebody who can barely string together a couple of sentences,” Karl said. “So they’ve set the expectations very low, and I think there’s some realization that that is not necessarily a good thing.” 

Davis then asked Karl how prepared Trump is for the debate, and Karl said Trump hasn’t done much debate preparation. However, a top Trump adviser told Karl that facing reporters in the White House press briefing room is like preparing for a debate.

ABC News Live has kicked off debate coverage on ABC News Live Prime with Anchor Linsey Davis taking a deep dive into the most important issues at stake in this election.

Davis first spoke with ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Mary Bruce, who is at the debate in Cleveland, to discuss Biden's strategy and whether he will try to fact check Trump in real time. 

"It's clear the gloves here are already off but Joe Biden's team today made it very clear. They said it is not the former vice president's job on the debate stage here tonight to fact check the president. I think that's because they think it would derail him as he tries to focus on the substance here," said Bruce.

"The vice president instead of constantly trying to fact check the president is going to be focused on his message to the American people trying to hammer home on the issues that he thinks matter most voters," she said, adding some of those issues are health care, the pandemic and the president's taxes. 

Bruce noted Biden has been "intensely" preparing for the debate, unlike the president who has been out campaigning. The president has said his strongest debate preparation happens in his interactions with reporters.

ABC News Live will simulcast pre-show coverage until the debate at 9:30 p.m. ET, and immediately after, ABC News' powerhouse political roundtable will add context and analysis.

ABC's News Live's new political show, "Your Voice Your Vote: The Breakdown," checked in with younger voters ahead of the debate -- a college Republican and a college Democrat at the University of Miami -- who are hosting a bipartisan watch party on what issues are important to them. 

"What I think young voters really care about is making our American democracy a more just and equitable one for all," said Rachel Stempler, president of University of Miami Young and College Democrats.

"I think the most important issues for voters here in South Florida, are the detrimental effects of COVID shutdowns and the looming threat of socialist policies coming from the west. I hope to see these issues addressed at the debate," said Andrew Heffler of the University of Miami College Republicans.

"Your Voice Your Vote: The Breakdown" with ABC News Live Update's Diane Macedo and ABC News Senior National Correspondent Terry Moran airs weekdays at 3 p.m. ET and re-airs at 5 p.m., 8 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. ET on ABC News Live.

In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper Tuesday evening, Biden senior adviser Symone Sanders said that the former vice president's focus in the debate will be on "kitchen table issues."

"Look, we expect that the American people actually don't want to hear President Trump attack Vice President Biden and his family," Sanders said. "So Joe Biden is going to speak directly to those folks at home tonight about the kitchen table issues that they care most about. And what President Trump decides to do with his time, that's on him."

When asked how Biden is going to deal with Trump possibly attacking the Biden's son Hunter, she said, "This is not about the vice president's son. This is about Joe Biden and Donald Trump."

Sanders went on to downplay the importance of the debate 35 days out from Election Day, saying that Tuesday's event isn't going to "fundamentally change the course of this race."

MORE: In Pennsylvania, advantage Biden with a big boost from women: POLL

"Joe Biden is going to make the case that this is really about Scranton versus Park Avenue," she added. 

-ABC News' Beatrice Peterson