Biden Says He Hopes to Avoid Taking Trump’s ‘Bait’ at Debates

(Bloomberg) -- Democratic nominee Joe Biden said Thursday he hopes he can avoid being baited into a “brawl” by President Donald Trump when they debate this fall.

“I hope I don’t take the bait because he’s going to say awful things about me, my family, etcetera,” Biden said at a virtual fundraiser. “I hope I don’t get baited into getting into a brawl with this guy because that’s the only place he’s comfortable.”

The former vice president said he expected to be able to keep his cool because “I’m used to dealing with bullies.”

Trump has frequently derided Biden’s mental acuity, saying without evidence that the Democrat intended to avoid debating him. Biden and his campaign have insisted that he intends to face Trump on the debate stage.

Biden said he hopes to use the three debates as an opportunity to hold Trump “accountable.” The forums are scheduled for Sept. 29, Oct. 15 and Oct. 22, though the Trump campaign has proposed holding a fourth event, which the Biden campaign has rejected.

“I’m preparing, going over the promises he’s made and those he’s broken,” he said at the fundraiser hosted by musician Jon Bon Jovi, his wife, Dorothea Bongiovi, and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy.

“The place he is most uncomfortable is on the facts,” Biden added. “The place he is most uncomfortable is in the area of what he’s going to do. The place he’s most uncomfortable is knowing any policy. He is one of the most ill-informed presidents substantively that I’ve ever worked with and I’ve worked with eight of them.”

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