ABC News' Chief Political Analyst Matthew Dowd predicted the debate may become the most watched event of the 2020 election cycle with upwards of 70 million viewers expected to tune in before offering his strategy on how each candidate should approach the debate.
"I think Joe Biden has to come across as calm, cool, collected and thoughtful. Present his case about why he wants to be president of the United States, prosecute the case against President Trump about what he's done over the last four years and why he thinks it's been not good for the American public," Dowd said.
Trump, on the other hand, should stay away from a constant attack on Biden, Dowd said.
"The best thing for Donald Trump is to present the reason why his presidency has been good for the American public. Present it in a way that rehabilitates his image because that's the biggest thing that's holding him back right now. It's not the perception of Joe Biden. It's the perception of Donald Trump," Dowd said.
Noting about 14% of Americans still identify themselves as undecided voters, Davis asked Dowd who's the real target audience tonight -- and if this debate will change much.
“Right now, Donald Trump comes into this, by all accounts, seven or eight points behind nationally, behind in every key target state in the electoral college, so Donald Trump has to move those voters. Joe Biden has to reassure his voters that are with him already and try to speak to some of those small segment of undecided voters,” he said.
Dowd noted analysts deemed Hillary Clinton the winner of the 2016 debates, although it was Trump who ultimately won the race, but he said this election cycle presents a “huge difference” from 2016 as it’s not a race about choice but a referendum.
