Pod Save America Trump Loses It Over Fox News Poll
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Jun 21, 2024 Bob Bauer, former White House Counsel and debate prep strategist for Trump, discusses insights from his new book, The Unraveling. He shares behind-the-scenes anecdotes from Biden's 2020 debate preparations and analyzes current political dynamics as Trump reacts negatively to a Fox News poll showing Biden ahead. The conversation explores the challenges of expectations management before debates, implications of polling data, and concerns about third-party candidates impacting voter turnout in critical states.
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2004 Debate Expectations Game
- The Bush campaign inflated Kerry's debating skills in 2004, calling him the best since Cicero.
- This was a common tactic to manage expectations, even though it wasn't believable.
2008 Debate Prep
- Pfeiffer recalls downplaying Obama's debate skills in 2008, highlighting McCain's Senate experience.
- They emphasized Obama's primary debate struggles, even though he was known for his communication abilities.
Biden on PEDs
- Accusing Biden of using PEDs isn't believable spin, but it resonates within the MAGA ecosystem.
- It helps reconcile the conflicting images of Biden as simultaneously incompetent and effective.