GOP strategist: To solidify a win, Trump needs a debate with Biden | Opinion

A State of the Union address is normally a well-crafted, made for TV event that allows the president to showcase his vision for America. This year, we got a speech that felt more like an old man yelling at me to get off his lawn.

President Joe Biden’s remarks lacked cohesion, contained too many misleading statements, and felt more like a progressive wish list than a presidential address. Unlike previous addresses, this one did not come with a bump in approval ratings.

So, it should come as no surprise that Biden will not commit to debating Donald Trump. An unscripted event like a debate only offers an opportunity for Biden to drive down his already low approval ratings.

For Trump, it’s a different story.

In Republican primaries leading up to Super Tuesday, Trump won approximately 75% of the total votes — a relatively low percentage for someone who has essentially been running as an incumbent. According to a Fox News analysis, of the nearly 3 million people who voted for Nikki Haley, 50 to 60% of them would not vote for Trump in November.

That’s a real problem. While some Haley voters will eventually vote for Trump, many others will choose to sit out this election. We also can’t ignore the role third-party candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr will play in key states where voters are unhappy with the choice of Biden or Trump. Both issues underscore a fundamental reality: Trump needs a debate with Biden.

Unlike negative ads that flood our TVs and mailboxes, a debate would be Trump’s moment to hold Biden accountable in real time — force him to think on his feet, respond to attacks and defend his record. A debate would be a chance for Trump to speak directly with voters and offer a clear contrast in vitality and vision.

A debate would also give Trump an opportunity to try to convince suburban women, as well as Black and Latino voters, that despite any severe misgivings they may have, their lives would be significantly better off with Trump as president.

The stage is set for this. Only one in four voters believe the country is currently heading in the right direction, with immigration remaining the most important issue. Without question, Biden systematically dismantled immigration policies and created one of the worst border crises in American history. But immigration can’t just be about “open borders” and a “migrant crisis.” Immigration must also be a safety and security issue. The killing of Laken Riley is proof of that.

When we talk about safety and security — if our goal is to persuade suburban woman as well as Black and Latino voters in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin — it must also include economic safety and security.

According to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll, “More than twice as many voters believe Mr. Biden’s policies have personally hurt them as believe his policies have helped them.” Trump’s winning message is to simply tap into how Americans are already feeling.

Democrats have taken notice. They fear that they will lose their grip on Black and Latino voters. Rev. Al Sharpton argues that Trump is “running on the bias and racism that was always the major part of his campaign.” It’s an effective campaign tactic. Black voters will not vote for someone they suspect to be a racist.

This election is already shaping up to be one of the ugliest and most contentious contests we’ve ever witnessed. Although it would lack the eloquence of Lincoln or the vision of Reagan, a debate between Trump and Biden might be the one thing that gives voters a chance to see the clear contrast between the two candidates.

Matt Wylie is a Republican political strategist and analyst who lives on Hilton Head Island. He has worked on federal, state and local campaigns.