The first presidential debate is Thursday night with a different format, but a debate and politics expert at SIU anticipates the same rhetoric between the two candidates.
Todd Graham, professor of debate at SIU and a regular debate expert for CNN, says he anticipates a terrible debate with lots of flaws due to a lack of practice for both candidates over the last 4 years.
The 90-minute debate will feature new details that most listeners and candidates are not accustomed to.
There will be no opening statements, candidate microphones will be muted until it's their turn to speak, there will be no studio audience, and no pre written notes will be allowed.
But, candidates will be given a pen and paper to take notes during the debate.
Graham says the guidelines were set up in an effort to avoid the crosstalk and interruptions by the two men in the first 2020 debate.
The debate starts at 8 pm Thursday. You can hear it live on WSIU Radio and watch it live on WSIU TV.
