During a recent interview on "The View," CNN host Dana Bash admitted that debate preparations focused more on anticipating former President Donald Trump's reactions than those of President Joe Biden.

The revelation followed a poorly received performance by Biden at a June debate which led to him withdrawing from the presidential race in July, Fox News reported.

In June, former President Donald Trump and then-President Joe Biden were scheduled to face off in a debate moderated by CNN hosts Dana Bash and Jake Tapper.

The moderators invested considerable effort in preparing for Trump’s expected behavior. Bash indicated that the prep work was intensive and centered around Trump's reactions.

Bash shared her thoughts with Ana Navarro on "The View," recalling the unexpected developments in the election cycle. She noted her surprise at Biden exiting the race post-debate. "I still sort of can’t believe that we are where we are for so many reasons," Bash mentioned. She added that their preparation was heavily weighted towards Trump, rather than Biden.

CNN's Debate Preparation Approaches

"We were prepping much more on how Donald Trump was going to act and react, and sort of tried to game that out, than on the Joe Biden side of things," Bash elaborated. The decision to focus on Trump’s possible behavior implies anticipation of a more unpredictable debate setting.

Perceived as having performed poorly at the CNN debate, Biden faced growing pressure from within his party. The culmination of this pressure resulted in Biden deciding to withdraw from the presidential race by July.

Following Biden's withdrawal, a new debate was organized in September between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. This debate was moderated by ABC News hosts David Muir and Linsey Davis.

Changes In Moderation Tactics

The debate led by Muir and Davis exhibited a different strategy compared to the CNN debate. Muir and Davis actively fact-checked Trump during the September debate but did not extend the same scrutiny to Harris. This moderation approach was influenced by the prior experience of statements going unchallenged during the CNN debate.

Linsey Davis commented on the change, mentioning that concerns were raised about the lack of dispute over statements made by Biden and allowed by the moderators during the CNN event. "People were concerned that statements were allowed to just hang and not [be] disputed by the candidate Biden, at the time, or the moderators," Davis remarked.

Claims And Responses During The ABC Debate

During the September debate, Harris made an inaccurate statement regarding U.S. military presence. She claimed, "There is not one member of the United States military who is in active duty in a combat zone in any war zone around the world, the first time this century." This claim was not fact-checked during the debate.

Despite the call for active fact-checking, Muir downplayed the criticism directed towards the moderation of the debate. He emphasized that post-debate evaluations often amount to “just noise.”

"All of the noise that you hear afterward about you know, ‘Which candidate won the debate, did the moderators win or lose?’ That's just noise. You all know that. The most important thing to remember is you all have the power," Muir asserted.

Outcome Of Biden's Performance

The CNN debate where Biden's performance was assessed took on heightened significance post-event. His perceived weak showing added momentum to his eventual decision to step down from the race. The political landscape shifted dramatically, further highlighted by Bash’s admission of the unprecedented focus on Trump's behavior.

The withdrawal of Biden opened the pathway for Harris to take on a central role in debates against Trump. The approach to moderating changed, incorporating lessons learned from the CNN encounter. This shift illustrates the dynamic nature of political campaigns and media strategies.

Bash's ongoing involvement in the election cycle remains noteworthy, underscored by her detailed recounting of debate preparations and subsequent surprises in the political arena.

With Harris now facing off against Trump, the election narrative continues to evolve. ABC's moderation drew mixed reactions, exemplifying the intricate balance required in handling such high-stakes events.

The unexpected twist, marked by Biden's exit and the alterations in debate strategies, underscores the fluidity of presidential campaigns. Analysts and viewers alike remain engaged, evaluating the unfolding political drama.