Their initial confrontation in Cleveland was not characterized by any of those words. Trump, who had been criticized by Republicans for being too aggressive in the previous debate, arrived in a more controlled manner in an attempt to revive his struggling campaign. However, his toned-down performance did not seem to have the potential to change the course of a race that has remained unaffected by significant global events. Here are six key points from the last presidential debate of 2020. They actually had a debate! Following the chaotic first debate, the debate commission decided to implement a mute feature for the opening statements of both candidates in each segment, which proved to be effective. Trump refrained from interrupting as much as he usually does, and even held back from discussing Hunter Biden's military exit. He also complimented the debate moderator, Kristen Welker, for maintaining control over the event. With the lack of cross-talk, viewers were able to clearly see the differences between the candidates on various issues such as the pandemic, climate change, systemic racism, economic recovery, federal spending, and health care. Trump's advisors believe that he needs the election to be a clear choice between himself and Biden. However, the contrasts between the two candidates only became apparent in the final debate, as Trump had bulldozed through the first debate and his contraction of the coronavirus led to the cancellation of the second. With Trump trailing in the polls and over 48 million Americans already voting, he still lacked a convincing response to COVID-19. In contrast, Biden, who wore a mask onstage, began his closing argument right from the beginning. The coronavirus pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 220,000 people in the United States. Biden expressed his belief that someone responsible for a large number of deaths should not continue to serve as president of the United States. This sentiment was also shared by Sen. Kamala Harris during the vice presidential debate, to which Trump and Vice President Mike Pence did not have satisfactory responses. Trump mentioned that models had predicted up to 2.2 million deaths if no action was taken, highlighting that it is a global pandemic and mortality rates have decreased. Trump optimistically stated that the situation is improving and the pandemic is fading away. Hospitalizations and cases are increasing. Trump referenced his own hospitalization with the virus during the first debate, leading to the cancellation of the second debate. He stated that he learned a lot from his experience. However, he also criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease specialist, leading up to the debate. Biden expressed his determination to end the virus by stating, "I will make sure we have a plan." Despite initial concerns that Trump was untouchable, Biden has emerged as the front-runner with strong approval ratings. Throughout the race, Biden has brushed off accusations of being a radical socialist with a nonchalant attitude, asking, "Do I look like a radical socialist?" At the first debate, he confidently stated, "I am the party." During the recent Thursday event, Trump made numerous attempts to connect Biden with Harris' stance on healthcare during the primaries and accused him of being influenced by "AOC plus three," which refers to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive House members. Trump also tried to link Biden with Sen. Bernie Sanders on healthcare. In response, Biden used his "Come on, man!" approach and called Trump a confused individual who believes he is running against someone else. He is competing against Joe Biden in the election. The Democratic candidate spoke directly to the audience, encouraging them to trust their own perceptions after serving as vice president for eight years. He emphasized that the viewers are familiar with both candidates and their characters. Biden is confident in himself and trusts that voters will see through Trump's attacks on his character and policies, a strategy that has been successful thus far. Trump finally delivered the punch that many Republicans had been anticipating, criticizing Biden for his long political career without significant accomplishments. Trump questioned why Biden had not achieved promised changes during his nearly half-century in Washington, labeling him as "all talk, no action." Biden struggled to respond effectively to Trump's repeated attacks on his record of public service. He even went so far as to distance himself from President Barack Obama due to their failure to pass an immigration overhaul, stating that they made a mistake and took too long to get it right. He emphasized that he will be the president of the United States, not the vice president. A Republican strategist noted that the criticism of not taking action on immigration was strong, especially after a disastrous first debate where Trump showed he could stand next to Biden and make his case. However, Trump has not consistently pursued this argument, and his image as an outsider has weakened now that he is a politician and an incumbent with unfulfilled promises. Trump criticized Biden by saying he ran for president because of him, but also got caught up in discussing obscure topics during the debate. Trump assumed that viewers were as familiar with certain internet controversies as he was, making references that likely went over most people's heads. These references included indirect jabs at the governor of Michigan's husband, criticism of the Obama administration for selling pillows and sheets to Ukraine, and attacks on the Biden family's business dealings without providing much context. Trump's comments, such as mentioning a submarine port, may have confused viewers. It seemed that Biden did not respond to Trump's accusations, as Trump continued to make unsubstantiated claims, particularly about Hunter Biden. Trump mentioned the release of new emails that he believed made the situation even worse. However, the discussion concluded without any significant resolution or impactful exchange. It served as a reminder of the contrast between running against Biden compared to Hillary Clinton. Trump benefited from years of negative campaigns against Clinton, but that is not the case with Biden. According to Democratic strategist Meredith Kelly, Trump focused on right-wing theories to appeal to his base without trying to persuade others. Despite this, Trump and Biden had meaningful disagreements, particularly regarding the extent to which the economy and schools should be closed to control the virus. Trump strongly pushed for reopening as soon as possible, while Biden insisted that this should only occur when it is truly safe. Trump referenced his own experience being hospitalized and recovering from the virus as evidence that we should be learning to live with it. Biden expressed disbelief at this notion, saying "Come on." "We are dying because of it." Trump criticized Biden for primarily campaigning from home this spring and summer, comparing it to being locked in a basement. He made fun of the Plexiglas dividers in restaurants, questioning the idea of diners being surrounded by plastic. Trump emphasized the importance of keeping the nation open, while Biden urged prioritizing public health to prevent a "dark winter" ahead. The candidates had a civil disagreement on healthcare and the environment. Biden stated that he plans to move the country away from the oil industry and eliminate federal subsidies, which Trump challenged by asking Texas, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma to remember his words. While progressives cheered Biden's declaration, Democrats in energy-heavy states like Oklahoma and New Mexico distanced themselves from the statement. A Republican strategist, Colin Reed, believed the debate ended in a draw. He stated that both candidates were well-prepared in terms of their demeanor and content. At this point, a successful push is a victory for Biden, while Trump needed to deliver a decisive blow.