Biden and Trump prepare to debate | First Thing

Donald Trump and Joe Biden will take part on Thursday in the first presidential debate in a race currently in a dead heat. Plus: Life in the DMZ

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Good morning.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump will face off once again in a CNN studio in Atlanta for the first presidential debate of the campaign. Though this will be the earliest in any US presidential campaign that a debate between the two main candidates has been staged, polls currently indicate that the race is essentially tied, upping the stakes for both candidates to perform well on Thursday night.

What do the polls say? A national polling average for May and June showed the candidates at 46% each, while polls in seven key battleground states - Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina - give Trump a narrow advantage, though usually within the margin of error.

What should we expect? Biden will likely be aiming to dilute criticism of his age with an energetic performance, and could be prepared to go on the offensive regarding Trump's criminal record. Meanwhile, Trump advisers who know he needs at least some moderate voters to win will be hoping he can tone down his most virulent rhetoric, such as saying immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country".

What have the candidates been saying ahead of the debate? Trump has unleashed a fusillade of baseless accusations against Biden and CNN moderators in a familiar rehash of tactics used in previous campaigns.