Gaffes, vibes, and wild cards: What to watch for in the debate

President Joe Biden and Donald Trump will face off Thursday night in a debate that could eventually prove to be the contest’s inflection point.

A new poll from the Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs Research suggests that roughly 6 in 10 American adults plan to watch the debate, which is taking place unusually early in the cycle. The Biden campaign proposed the June timing in hopes of jolting the electorate awake, and the poll suggests they will get their opportunity.

While Trump enjoyed a several-point advantage over Biden in national polling for the first several months of 2024, he has now fallen just a hair behind Biden (40.8% to 40.9%) in 538's polling average—a shift in fortunes the Biden campaign will surely seek to capitalize on during Thursday's high-stakes event.  

Here are five things to look for during the debate.