What matters to you in the upcoming debate?

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump will meet face-to-face for the first time in four years in Thursday night’s presidential debate.

Recent polling shows the race is at a virtual dead heat.

Some people told 28/22 News they will be watching to see if they “go after each other.” Will it be a knockdown drag-out debate?

Others say they want to hear where they stand on various issues facing the nation.

“Honestly I just wish we had another candidate who would put America first instead of these two candidates we have,” said Wilkes-Barre resident Carolyn Richardson.

Richardson says she’s not confident she’ll hear any discussion of issues like inflation or border security.

“I am going to be watching the debate. I think a lot of people are going to be watching the debate to see who lies better on the debate,” Richardson said.

Howard Clark from Wilkes-Barre and Larry Warner from West Chester were eating lunch and talking about the debate.

“What do you want to hear as a voter?” 28/22 News Reporter Andy Mehalshick asked.

“I just want to hear them just go into each other to see their different points and stuff like healthcare,” Clark replied.

“What do you want to hear from the candidates if anything?” Mehalshick asked.

“Take the homeless off the streets. There is so much to do. Fix the highways, It just goes on and on. The pollution is worse than ever. Nothing’s really getting better. It’s getting worse, there’s so many issues,” Warner said.

28/22 News heard over and over again: Voters do not want this to turn into a verbal brawl.

“I want to see something good for the future. I don’t want to see them bashing each other. I want to see something positive something good. Talk about social security. Let’s talk about homelessness,” Wilkes-Barre resident Anne Krull said.

Once again, Luzerne County is on the radar of both candidates.

Luzerne County voters supported Trump in 2016 and that helped him win the White House.

Luzerne County historically votes Democrat.

28/22 News spoke with the leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties in Luzerne County to get their take on Thursday’s debate

“I think Joe Biden needs to really silence his doubters, people who think he’s not up for the job,” Luzerne County Democrat Party Chairman Tom Sibulla said.

Tom Shubilla is chairman of the Luzerne County Democrat Party. He says the president cannot be dragged into a verbal joust with the former president, but focus on the issues and the future.

“Think about the next four years. It’s not just about tonight, winning the debate, laying out the future, laying the groundwork for his future plans for the next four years,” Shubilla continued.

“Well, I think a lot of people are going to tune in you know for the theatrics,” said Luzerne County Republican Chairman Chris Huntzinger.

Huntzinger says that the former president must not lose his “cool” but focus on his record when he was in the White House.

“I think most of the constituents I talked to in Luzerne County are past that. They want to see how the policies of these two presidential candidates are going to affect their lives,” Huntzinger said.

King’s College Political Science Professor Dr. Dave Sosar believes that both Biden and Trump know the importance of keeping it together.

“What’s going to happen I think are two gentlemen who will probably be much calmer than a lot of people expect. Both people have to present a calmness and a knowledge of the information. The person who best does that is probably going to come out as the respected winner,” Dr. Sosar explained.

Hubilla and Huntzinger say this debate, win or lose, will set the tone and strategy for both candidates moving forward.

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