12:30 Report — Inside Trump, Biden debate strategies

by Cate Martel - 06/25/24 12:30 PM ET

12:30 REPORT

It’s Tuesday. The Wimbledon tennis tournament is only a few days away. Eeeek! 🎾 Here’s what’s happening today:

Details of the debate strategies for President Biden and former President Trump are starting to seep out. Biden has a full mock debate hall set up at Camp David.
Trump’s VP pick appears to be down to just three Republicans. The rest are in second and third tiers.
Keep an eye on Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s (D-N.Y.) primary today. It’s become a proxy war for parts of the Democratic Party, and he could easily lose.
The Detroit Lions’ players admitted to what they tell Uber drivers they do for a living. Hint: They mostly lie.

I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@digital-stage.thehill.com.  Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. 

🥊 Talk of the Morning

Do we think this will be more like a cage fight or an angry dispute between neighbors?:

President Biden and former President Trump are meeting in Atlanta Thursday for the first presidential debate of 2024. Details are starting to seep out about the strategies for each candidate — and The Hill’s Niall Stanage reports that their strategies can be boiled down into one word: Attack.

Biden’s strategy:

Remind voters that the former president appointed Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade.
Stress that a second Trump term would put democracy in danger.
Paint Trump as a selfish person who prioritizes himself and his wealthy donors.

Trump’s strategy:

Hit Biden’s record on immigration and inflation.
Use any opportunity to slam the incumbent’s age and mental acuity.

➤ HOW BIDEN IS PREPARING:

Biden is hunkered down at Camp David preparing for Thursday’s debate. Conservatives have mercilessly mocked his age and mental acuity, so a strong performance would be huge for the president. It would also put Democrats at ease.

The New York Times’s Katie Rogers reports that a mock debate hall has been set up at Camp David. “[A] movie theater and an airplane hangar have been outfitted with lights and production equipment to create a mock debate stage. At least 16 current and former aides, summoned from Washington and Wilmington, whiz back and forth on golf carts to join President Biden in strategy sessions.”

Both candidates are a bit rusty: “The rust factor is real,” former Obama strategist David Axelrod told the Times. “Neither of these guys is accustomed to having someone a few feet away, grilling them with no deference.”

Who’s playing Trump in Biden’s debate prep?: Politico’s Ryan Lizza reports that Biden’s personal attorney, Bob Bauer, is likely playing Trump in the mock debates, though he wouldn’t confirm his participation — debate prep is very hush-hush. 🎧 Listen to Politico’s podcast interview with Bauer

👂 VP Speculation

Nothing people love more than a good guessing game:

Former President Trump has said he chose his running mate but won’t reveal who. The Hill’s Brett Samuels reports that there are just three Republicans who are likely to be chosen.

➤ THE TOP TIER:

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R):

👍Deep pockets

👍Won’t upstage or overshadow Trump

👍He and Trump get along personally

👎Not well-known

👎Won’t excite his base or attract more moderate voters

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio):

👍Face of the next generation of Trump’s movement

👍Fierce, loyal to Trump in TV appearances

👎He’s 39 years old and doesn’t have a lot of experience in office

👎Trump may prefer to have him stay in the Senate to lead his movement

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.):

👍Would help lure traditional Republicans and moderates

👍Speaks Spanish and could help with Latino voters

👍Lots of credibility with foreign policy

👎They famously had beef in 2016. Remember Trump calling him “Little Marco?” And remember Rubio’s hand size comments?

👎 Can’t have both candidates from the same state. Rubio would have to change his residency

➤ THE SECOND TIER:

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson have also received vetting materials from the Trump campaign.

🗳️ Happening Today

Four more states are up at the plate:

Colorado, New York, South Carolina and Utah are holding their congressional primaries today.

The race to watch: Progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s (D-N.Y.) high-profile primary has turned into a battle of the competing wings of the Democratic Party. He’s facing Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who has the support of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

➤ A CLIP I’VE SEEN ALL OVER X:

Clips of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) jumping around at a rally for Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) have gone viral.

Ocasio-Cortez posted a clip of herself at the rally: “Fox News is big mad that we’re for the many, not the money. We rallied 1200 people in the Bronx to take on dark money, get fired up, and send busloads of volunteers to canvass and phone bank. It’s called organizing. And it’s fun as hell.” 📹 Watch the clip

OK, this made me laugh: @thejcoop posted, “When your name gets called on ‘The Price Is Right:’”

💳 On Capitol Hill

Tax credits are causing some strife:

The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports that “Senate Democrats say Senate Republicans are blocking an expansion of the child tax credit and a package of corporate tax credits, even though business groups are clamoring for its passage, because they want to deny President Biden a legislative victory five months before Election Day.”

Keep in mind: “It’s the second time this year presidential politics have created a rift between Senate Republicans and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable, two of the biggest business trade groups in Washington.”

🐝 Internet Buzz

🍓 Celebrate: Today is National Strawberry Parfait Day.

🐸 Yes, frogs? You have something to tell us?: Vox’s Benji Jones writes that “the frogs of Puerto Rico have a warning for us.” Basically, scientists are now analyzing what the frogs are communicating.

🗞️ Amazing!: Axios’s Sara Fischer reports that The Associated Press is launching a nonprofit to raise at least $100 million for local news.

🚙 I’ve learned to never say “I’m a journalist” to a stranger unless I want to hear everything about their personal political views: The Detroit Lions posted a video, where players admit to what they tell Uber drivers that they do for a living.

📆 On The Agenda

The House is back in session today. The Senate is out. President Biden is at Camp David prepping for Thursday’s debate. Vice President Harris is in Washington. (all times Eastern)

1:15 p.m.: State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream
2:30 p.m.: Harris participates in a press call to announce a new housing initiative.
6:30 p.m.: First and last House votes. 📆 Today’s agenda
7 p.m.: Former Olympic swimmers Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt testify on anti-doping efforts. 💻 Livestream