The Trump campaign is trying to raise expectations for Joe Biden's debate performance

The Trump re-election campaign typically likes to paint the Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, as "borderline incoherent," NBC News notes. That makes it somewhat surprising to hear President Trump's campaign manager, Bill Stepien, praise Biden's debate skills. "Joe Biden is not formidable anywhere else, but he is formidable on the debate stage," Stepien told NBC News.

Stepien added that Biden is a "politician" who "gives speeches" and is "really good" and "very practiced at it." It appears to be a new tactic for the Trump campaign that is centered around raising expectations for Biden's debate performance, NBC News reports, perhaps in the hopes that he'll fail to meet them. He said he just hopes Biden "shows up" to the debates, referring to the unlikely possibility he won't because of the coronavirus pandemic (Biden has committed to all three debates).

Praise aside, it sounds like Trump is still planning to wing it during the debates — multiple people familiar with the campaign's debate strategy told NBC News that the president hasn't held any mock debate sessions and has no plans to stage a formal practice round.

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