Why presidents often struggle in their first re-election debates — and how Biden is getting ready

Life as the commander in chiefis "in a sort of protected bubble," says Alan Schroeder, a presidential debate historian. "It's four years of people saying 'Mr. President,'" a Democratic strategist put it.

Then comes the first debate of a re-election campaign — when the shock of personal confrontation with a hungry adversary has for decades led presidents to lose or perform poorly in that initial matchup, putting their chances of a second term in doubt.

It's a trend President Joe Biden will be focused on cutting short next week when he and former President Donald Trump meet in Atlanta for their debate on CNN, while Trump will try to knock Biden back like so many challengers before him.

In interviews, a half-dozen former campaign officials and debate experts outlined why so many incumbents have tended to stumble in early debates — and how they think Biden can avoid those pitfalls. As debate preparations intensify, a Biden campaign official threw doubt on the idea that the historical trend would apply to Biden, who has often had showdowns about Trump and forcefully denounced him.

The official said the campaign could not imagine a world where Biden expected deference from Trump on a debate stage.

In a statement, Trump senior adviser Jason Miller said Trump would be ready for the debate, criticizing Biden’s preparations as being “programmed” for the showdown by advisers and saying Trump does “numerous tough interviews every single week and delivers lengthy rally speeches while standing.”

'Uncomfortable,' 'bewildered,' 'embarrassed'

President Jimmy Carter was widely perceived to have fumbled his first — and only — debate against Ronald Reagan in 1980.

"Are you better off than you were four years ago?" Reagan challenged voters