As Republicans debate, Biden campaign, Trump, RFK Jr to target voters off stage.

Aug 23 (Reuters) – While Republican presidential hopefuls gather in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for their first debate Wednesday evening, the true political action unfolds away from the stage.

Former President Donald Trump, leading significantly in the early polls, has opted to skip the debate and engage in an interview with former Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson. In response, President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign intensifies its media outreach, utilizing ad buys, organizing events in Milwaukee, and mobilizing a massive online volunteer force. The objective is clear: even without Trump’s presence, the Republicans participating in the debate align themselves with his ideology. In the meantime, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a long-shot Democratic rival to Biden, focuses on discussing inflation with Virginia voters just as the debate commences.

To strengthen their influence, the Biden campaign recently conducted an extensive training session, urging thousands of volunteers, particularly in swing states, to actively engage online during the debate. The primary goal is to highlight Republican statements and draw clear contrasts between their positions and Biden’s track record. To facilitate this, the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) have established a joint “war room” in Washington to provide real-time responses throughout the night.

Offering a glimpse into what lies ahead, earlier this year, a Biden campaign video featuring Republican congresswoman Majorie Taylor Greene comparing Biden to former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gained substantial traction on Twitter, generating over 43 million views. Biden himself endorsed the video, stating, “I approve this message,” capitalizing on Greene as a symbol of what he defines as the “extreme-MAGA” faction within the GOP, which alludes to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” policies.

Additionally, the Biden campaign launches its third major paid ad campaign of the election cycle on Wednesday, allocating $25 million to target eight battleground states. This campaign includes the first-ever messages aimed at Latino and Black media. Their strategy involves inundating Milwaukee with advertisements that highlight Biden’s accomplishments, while a billboard truck continuously circles the debate venue. Prior to the debate, Biden campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond and DNC chair Jaime Harrison will conduct a press conference to set the stage.

“I can predict what you’ll see tomorrow. And that’s going to be the most extreme slate of Republican primary candidates ever taking the stage in Wisconsin. The truth is it doesn’t matter who wins the debate. They’ve chosen a losing strategy,” remarked Richmond during a press briefing on Tuesday.

When questioned about the close theoretical matchup between Biden and Trump in November’s polls, despite the extreme views held by Republican candidates, Richmond emphasized, “President Biden has been counted out every single time.”

Contested primaries challenging incumbent presidents often provide more opportunities for the opposition party to attack. Consequently, during Wednesday night’s debate, Republican candidates are expected to direct the majority of their criticism towards Biden rather than each other.

As for the possibility of a Biden-Trump debate or the consequences if Trump chooses not to participate in general election debates, the Biden campaign has yet to reach a final decision.