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INCLUDING NORTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR DOUG BERGUM, AS WELL AS JD VANCE AND MARCO RUBIO. >> THE STAGE NOW SET BETWEEN PRESIDENT BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, THEIR FIRST FACE-OFF IN FOUR YEARS SINCE THE TWO RIVALS CLASHED IN A PAIR OF TENSE DEBATES. >> THE RADICAL LEFT -- >> WOULD YOU SHUT UP, MAN. >> AHEAD OF THE EARLIEST GENERAL ELECTION DEBATE ON RECORD, PRESIDENT BIDEN AT CAMP DAVID, OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE FOR NEARLY A WEEK, HUDDLING WITH ADVISERS AND HOLDING MOCK DEBATES. PRESIDENT TRUMP AT HIS MAR-A-LAGO ESTATE, DOING MORE INFORMAL PREP. IN THE DEBATE, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY AND THE BORDER WHILE PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL LIKELY ZERO IN ON ABORTION RIGHTS, THREATS TO THE DEMOCRACY, SOME ALLIES POINTING TO HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS AS AN EXAMPLE TO REPEAT. >> YOU CAN'T LOVE YOUR COUNTRY ONLY WHEN YOU WIN! >> Reporter: IT COMES AS PRESIDENT BIDEN IS FACING INCREASING ATTACKS ON THE ISSUE FROM MR. TRUMP, WHO RECENTLY ACCUSED THE PRESIDENT, WITHOUT EVIDENCE, OF PLANNING TO USE PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS BEFORE THE DEBATE. >> HE'S SLEEPING NOW. BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET HIM GOOD AND STRONG, SO A LITTLE BEFORE DEBATE TIME, HE GETS A SHOT IN THE [ BLEEP ]. >> Reporter: THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN SAYS THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS DESPERATE AND RESORTING TO OBVIOUSLY FALSE LIES. TO MINIMIZE INTERRUPTIONS, THE 90-MINUTE DEBATE WILL FEATURE MUTED MICS WHEN THE OTHER CANDIDATE IS TALKING. CNN OFFERING A PREVIEW OF HOW IT WILL WORK. >> MY VOLUME REMAINS CONSTANT WHILE PHIL'S INTERRUPTION CAN BE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. >> THERE WILL BE NO LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE, SOMETHING BOTH CAMPAIGNS AGREED TO, BUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS NOW COMPLAINING THAT IT'S A STERILE, DEAD ROOM AND THAT YOU HAVE NO AUDIENCE TO READ. STILL UNKNOWN, ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE SOURCES IN BOTH CAMPAIGNS WHETHER THE BITTER POLITICAL RIVALS WILL SHAKE HANDS BEFORE OR AFTER THE DEBATE, A TRADITION THEY SKIPPED IN 2020 AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC. FOUR YEARS EARLIER, MR. TRUMP AND HIS RIVAL, HILLARY CLINTON, ALSO DECLINED A HANDSHAKE. FOR BOTH CANDIDATES, TONIGHT IS A CRUCIAL TEST TO APPEAL TO SKEPTICAL VOTERS WHO DISLIKE BOTH OPTIONS. >> SO WHERE DOES THIS RACE STAND GOING INTO THE DEBATE? A NEW POLL SHOWS MR. TRUMP SLIGHTLY LEADING PRESIDENT BIDEN AMONG BOTH REGISTERED AND LIKELY VOTERS, BUT IT'S WITHIN THE POLL'S MARGIN OF ERROR. UNDERSCORING OTHER RECENT POLLS, SIGN