The Malignant Loser has already set up a narrative for his cult about the debate tonight: heads I win, tails you lose. His lack of preparation reflects the confidence that his cult will follow him no matter what, and also the contempt he has for issues and what the normal voter cares about. From Politico:
"Donald Trump in recent days gave speeches in Washington and Philadelphia and greeted supporters at a cheesesteak restaurant in Pennsylvania. He flew to New Orleans for a fundraiser Monday, and called in to a roundtable with Black leaders on Wednesday in Atlanta.
Ahead of what could be the most consequential political event of the cycle, Trump has continued campaigning and has eschewed intense debate preparations, even as Joe Biden has remained hidden away at Camp David to get ready.
That’s made easier by the fact that he’s already declared the debate is essentially rigged.
Trump and his team have worked to undermine, undercut and cast doubt on the historic debate before it’s started: They’ve questioned the fairness of CNN moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper. Trump and his allies have criticized the format of the debate. They’ve repeatedly asked President Joe Biden to take a drug test.
It’s a playbook Trump has followed for years, most notably ahead of the 2020 election and his criminal trial this spring in Manhattan. If Trump comes out the winner of the debate, his allies predict, then it will be in spite of the obstacles. If Trump stumbles, then he has already set up who and what to blame. It’s also a brand of grievance politics that has long animated Trump’s most fervent supporters and helped him, baselessly, explain away past political failures and legal setbacks." (our emphasis)
With his cult follower wearing t-shirts and flying flags celebrating his convicted felon status, and his outrageous fascistic policies, there's no depth to which the Malignant Loser could descend and not find his followers with him.
