Joe Biden and Donald Trump will square off for a historic US presidential debate later, with the stage set for what could be an inflection point in the 2024 race, as millions of voters tune in to the clash of rivals.
The showdown - between the oldest-ever incumbent and a convicted felon - fires the starting gun on what promises to be a bruising summer of campaigning in a deeply polarized and tense United States still convulsed over the chaos and violence that accompanied the 2020 election.
"I think I have been preparing for it for my whole life... We'll do very well," Mr Trump told right-wing network Newsmax in an interview on his debate preparation. Mr Trump enjoys a slight advantage in the all-important swing states but the overall polling looks extremely close in an election likely to be decided by a few photo finishes in a handful of battlegrounds.
Mr Biden, 81, faces the most concern about his mental sharpness, with voters much more likely to bring up his age than Mr Trump's, despite the Republican being just three years younger. Mr Trump's preparation has been more relaxed, eschewing dress rehearsals in favour of informal policy roundtables and workshopping debate strategy with rally crowds.
"We know that Joe Biden, that after taking an entire week off, will be ready for this," senior Trump campaign advisor Jason Miller told reporters.
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