![A high-stakes battle of aging titans](https://cdn.magzter.com/1704825715/1719474632/articles/bxoShDgIe1719479956371/A-HIGHSTAKES-BATTLE-OF-AGING-TITANS.jpg)
Opinion polls give Donald Trump, 78, and Joe Biden, 81, even odds of emerging victorious on election day in November. They will face off Thursday night on the CNN stage for a 90-minute debate, starting at 9 p.m.
There is wild talk of performance enhancing drugs, rigorous training sessions and spectators around the world sitting on the edge of their seats, awaiting a clash.
No, this is not the summer’s Olympic Games we’re talking about — not yet, at least.
It’s that other every-four-years event, an American presidential debate.
Two aging titans face off Thursday night on the CNN stage for a 90minute faceoff, starting at 9 p.m.
U.S. President Joe Biden, 81, brings a lifetime of political experience to the debate, the last four of them spent in the White House.
The challenger — no spring chicken himself at 78 — is seeking to reclaim the title with a fighting style that leans heavily on chaos and populist discontent.
Determining a favourite likely depends on your political persuasion, but opinion polls give the two men even odds of emerging victorious on election day in November.
The referees will be CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, but there will also be legions of realtime fact-checkers doing their part to weed out the fake news from the facts. (The New York Times announced it would be deploying a squad of 29 fact-checkers for the debate.)
With wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, fierce divisions on immigration, and concerns about the economy and inflation, the stakes could not be higher.
The expectations, though, probably could not be lower.
This story is from the June 27, 2024 edition of Toronto Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 27, 2024 edition of Toronto Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Rookie's dominant starts offer hope](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1757968/U24tbuIds1720348822149/ROOKIES-DOMINANT-STARTS-OFFER-HOPE.jpg)
Rookie's dominant starts offer hope
Blue Jays still look like trade deadline sellers, but righty Rodríguez just might be a keeper
![England perfect in shootout](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1757968/R2iXG8_iM1720348663188/ENGLAND-PERFECT-IN-SHOOTOUT.jpg)
England perfect in shootout
Alexander-Arnold nets winner to reach semifinals, redemption for Saka
![How did Shanaplan Leafs lose their way?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1757968/fowuFHf6g1720348298631/HOW-DID-SHANAPLAN-LEAFS-LOSE-THEIR-WAY.jpg)
How did Shanaplan Leafs lose their way?
Potential, sure, but so few results, promises unkept
![ULTIMATE GOAL](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1757968/kR6iF-pN61720348093131/ULTIMATE-GOAL.jpg)
ULTIMATE GOAL
Why Canada's run to semifinals means so much
![Do Canadians want more or less government in their lives?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1757968/cIJn7O2Yi1720347925479/DO-CANADIANS-WANT-MORE-OR-LESS-GOVERNMENT-IN-THEIR-LIVES.jpg)
Do Canadians want more or less government in their lives?
In a recurring feature, Susan Delacourt, a small-I liberal, and Matt Gurney, a small-c conservative, bring their different perspectives - and shared commitment to civil disagreement to the political debates of the moment.
![Rescued cub finds new life](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1757968/3xQqDgF_M1720347860245/RESCUED-CUB-FINDS-NEW-LIFE.jpg)
Rescued cub finds new life
Freya, a six-month-old lion cub rescued from the wildlife trade in Lebanon, poked a curious nose out of her transport crate and sniffed the air. Satisfied, she took her first cautious steps in her new forever home in a sanctuary in South Africa.
![Theories about coup abound](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1757968/6XiD39FaD1720347785923/THEORIES-ABOUT-COUP-ABOUND.jpg)
Theories about coup abound
A plan to stage a coup against Bolivia's president was not what Gen. Tomás Peña y Lillo was expecting when he entered the military headquarters in La Paz last Wednesday.
!['It takes them many days to secure even a respite beď](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1757968/i-i0pesbZ1720347527131/IT-TAKES-THEM-MANY-DAYS-TO-SECURE-EVEN-A-RESPITE-BE.jpg)
'It takes them many days to secure even a respite beď
A year ago, a funding spat left asylum seekers on the streets. So what's changed and what hasn't?
![Flight from justice](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1757968/2b6PN-mTF1720347100968/FLIGHT-FROM-JUSTICE.jpg)
Flight from justice
After the bloody murder came a panicked getaway across Ontario and a pursuit over three European countries, ending in capture. In the second of three parts, the Hamilton Spectator's Nicole O'Reilly retraces the fugitives' steps
![Path cleared for possible ceasefire](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1757968/UPrFKjJYC1720346976120/PATH-CLEARED-FOR-POSSIBLE-CEASEFIRE.jpg)
Path cleared for possible ceasefire
Militant group in Gaza has dropped key demand to end war, officials say