For the first time in history, two presidents will square off in a televised political debate, the results of which each hope will tilt the scales far enough in their favor to keep them in (or send them back to) the White House four months from now.
"This should be pay-per-view," American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear joked in an interview with CCJ Wednesday. "The rules that have been set up for this debate are particularly interesting to me: the mic shut off; there won't be any audience."
Indeed the rules governing the face-off between Incumbent Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump are unique. In addition to muted microphones when it is the other person's turn to talk, prewritten notes are not permitted, neither candidate is allowed to sit down, and candidates will not be allowed to consult with their campaign team during commercial breaks – all maneuvers CNN hopes will foster a more civil and organic debate.
"I'm looking for common sense from these two. I am hoping that one or both can convey some ideas as to where our industry and the economy will be going forward, rather than attacking each other," Spear added. "I think our industry really needs certainty. I think the economy needs that. The consumers need certainty."
The economy will certainly be thrust centerstage, but Spear – whose Washington DC office is barely 3 miles from the White House – hopes to hear some ideas and support for an industry that moves more that two-thirds of everything consumers touch.
"I'm looking for a lot of things that I think our industry needs and wants, which is solutions," Spear said. "I think we need common sense in environmental and energy policy. I think we need common sense in workforce policies that don't lean toward union bosses. I also think (we need) fairness in the courts. The plaintiff's bar has made it clear they are at war with our industry."
The march to Nov. 5 is likely to be an ugly one as Biden vs. Trump II is shaping up to be an epic and volatile clash, with neither side having a lot of margin between winning and losing. Current polls suggest a tight race ahead and Spear said ATA has been spending a lot of time educating both candidates equally, "and making certain that our concerns are part of their narratives."
"I wouldn't make a prediction," Spear said of the outcome. "I think it's a jump ball. We're just going to see how it plays out like everybody else."
Spear noted that ATA and the industry as a whole will need to remain engaged and meet with both candidates and their teams, putting transportation's concerns front and center, and "making certain those good policies are reflected regardless of who wins, because the consequences are steep when you're moving 73% of the economy," he said. "Our industry matters. We touch everything and we're usually the first to feel it when things go south. Our industry is a good indicator, and I would hope that both camps would want to pay close attention to the needs of our industry, because we are the glue and we need to really share that story, not from a partisan or political perspective. We don't pick favorites."
"I'm looking for good policies, good vision, certainty, and if we can get our policies baked into that," Spear said, "all the better."
The debate takes place Thursday, June 27, at 9 p.m. ET on CNN.
