Trump vs. Biden Senility, drugs - and what else is important in the TV duel

Here are the five most important questions and answers about the first TV duel between US President Joe Biden and challenger Donald Trump, covering everything you need to know about the TV debate.

Why is the TV duel important?

Joe Biden and his likely challenger Donald Trump are neck and neck in the polls. If a poll shows one of the two ahead, this lead is still within the margin of error. Because many who count themselves as Democrats or Republicans have already made up their minds, independents could be the deciding factor in November's election.

Interest in the event is huge, with about six in 10 respondents to a survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research saying they are "extremely" or "very likely" to either watch the debate live, watch clips of it, read about it or consume commentary about it on the news or social media.

How are the candidates preparing?

As different as the candidates are, so different is their preparation for the event: Joe Biden retreats to Camp David five days before the event to the US President's historic vacation home, which is located on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the state of Maryland.

At least 16 advisors help the 81-year-old prepare for the debate. On the one hand, they are identifying topics - and on the other, practising the question-and-answer game that will be broadcast by various broadcasters around the world.

Donald Trump promptly attacked Joe Biden personally for this preparation: The incumbent is "retreating to a cabin to 'prepare'", Donald Trump blasphemes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His opponent will mainly sleep at Camp David, the 78-year-old continued.

Trump is not preparing specifically, but is campaigning in the swing states - in addition to Pennsylvania, he is visiting Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia. "Well, that's the best strategy here," he tells Fox News in Philadelphia about his preparation through campaigning. "We have all these people here, and they're screaming questions. I'm looking forward to the debate."

Who's more senile?

Neither candidate has any practical experience when it comes to debates, the New York Times notes. "The rust factor is real," David Axelrod, who once advised Barack Obama, tells the US newspaper. "None of these guys are used to someone standing a few feet away and attacking them without someone defending them."

The two sides are accusing each other of fielding a candidate who is past his prime in terms of mental freshness. There are plenty of pictures, memes and videos posted on social media to prove that the candidates are too senile to lead the country.

Both Biden and Trump have recently given these doubters ammunition time and again. The US President caused confusion at the G7 summit when he threatened to run away and caused laughter when he visited a church congregation - because everyone was dancing except him. Donald Trump gave his audience the choice of dying by battery or shark: "I'd take electrocution every time," he said.

Incidentally, Joe Biden received support from Germany in this matter: "I think that Joe Bide is someone who is very clear, who knows exactly what he is doing and who is one of the most experienced politicians in the world - especially when it comes to international politics," said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about the incumbent president after the G7 summit, according to Politico.

What about drugs?

The fact that drug abuse is an issue at all - among the candidates, not the people - is due to Joe Biden's State of the Union address on March 8: the president delivered and received a correspondingly positive response. Not so in the right-wing camp and on Fox News, where host Sean Hannity suggested that "Jacked up Joe" Biden had doped before the speech.

This narrative has been cultivated on these channels ever since - only the wording has changed. Even Donald Trump has taken it up - and enriched it with a pinch of cocaine, which he publicly associates with "Pumped up Joe" Biden.

An opponent, pumped up and senile? The Trump camp cares little about this contradiction - and is calling for a drug test before the TV duel. The Biden side rejects this, which sows the seeds of doubt - at least among its own supporters.

Why does Trump have the last word in the duel?

It's down to the procedure. CNN greats Jake Tapper and Dana Bash moderate the TV duel. It lasts 90 minutes including two commercial breaks. For the first time since 1976, there will be no audience present. The candidates' microphones are muted when the other speaks. After questions, they are turned off after two minutes.

The first TV duel between the two is scheduled unusually early: This was reportedly the wish of the incumbent president, who wants the TV debates to be over before the first postal voters cast their ballots.

The challenger has not yet been nominated as a candidate by his party. This will only happen at a Republican meeting in mid-July in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The second TV debate is scheduled for September 10 on ABC.

On the question: because the Biden side won a coin toss, she got to pick the podium side. She chose the one on the right: When two candidates are on stage, the audience apparently prefers that side. In return, Trump has the last word.