Politico correspondent Ryan Lizza concludes a lengthy piece on Trump's 2016 debating "style" against Hillary Clinton and what it might portend for Joe Biden:
"Last time around Trump learned to master and dominate the debates in the Republican primary, and he was extraordinarily effective against someone as skilled as Hillary Clinton in the three general election debates. He shouldn’t be underestimated."
I was glad to see Lizza setting exceptions for Trump perhaps far higher than they have been. Since the president has taken two brutal beatings in only the last month — from Woodward, immediately followed by the New York Times — viewers may expect to see a broken grifter take the stage with his tie between his legs. But given Trump's congenital nastiness of historic proportions, adversity is more likely to make him even more aggressive in assaulting Biden and acting the strongman.
It won't be enough, though, as long as the former vice president's behavior is the presidential one. That is just about the only bar Biden must meet.