AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – As President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump squared off in Thursday’s debate in Atlanta, some locals held watch parties around the CSRA.

The Republican party gathered at the Columbia County Party Headquarters, while the Democratic party gathered at the Augusta Municipal Golf Course.

The watch party is about showing up and standing up to watch what some consider a real debate.

“I think they’re having a real debate between two people and they’re the only two people in the room. It’s a real debate,” Democrat Franklin Williams.

It was the first time since 2020 that Biden and Trump faced each other on the same stage, and there were new rules in place to keep the candidates from interrupting each other.

“Necessary, very necessary. If you go back at those debates in 2020, those rules were necessary,” said Williams.

But others were curious about how the rule would work.

“It could be very interesting and might even have an impact on the way the results of the debate may go,” said Republican Trey Allen.

New rules or not, local supporters believe their respected candidate would perform well.

Viewers on both sides were watching Biden’s stama and Trump’s rhetoric.

“I ain’t worried about his age,” said Williams. “Age today ain’t what it used to be because we have better health care.”

Allen said: “I think Trump is gonna probably perform well but, again, I’m very curious to see what Trump shows up.”

Aside from the candidate’s personal performance, both sides were focused on different issues.

Williams said: “Why do we have a convicted person running for president?”

Allen said: “I’m looking forward to hearing that the plans are about the economy. I think inflation is something we are all concerned about but the standard topics are affecting us all.”

Ahead of the debate, we spoke with local voters on what they wanted to hear as Trump and Biden went head-to-head.

From overseas to here at home, it will be a heavily watched debate with a new set of rules.

It could be a pivotal night in the race for the White House.

With polls showing this to be a very close race, the stakes Thursday night are high with one in five voters telling Forbes they will be watching to decide who they will vote for in November.

What are voters from both parties listening for in Thursday’s debate?

People in Augusta have a lot to say about what they want to change but to sum it all up, people we spoke with want a cohesive plan to solve the financial squeeze many people in Augusta are feeling right now.

No matter the age, race or gender, people in Augusta seem to want the same thing — a better economy.

And on Thursday night, people want to hear genuine words from the candidates.

“Are they standing firm on their faith, or is it being more swayed by politics?” asked one Augusta resident.

Another resident said: “All candidates seem to sound very repetitive and robotic.”

It’s a debate that local political parties say is going to turn that tide for many people undecided.

“For those who are watching, it’s going to be very impactful because not only are you going to have die-hard Biden and Trump supporters you have a pretty good amount of people who are undecided,” Richmond County Democratic Party Chairman Jordan Johnson.

Columbia County Republican Party Public Relations Chair Ashley Lee said: “I think a lot of people’s minds are made up but there are still a lot of independents that go either way.”

In the end, everyone just says they want stability in the economy and direction, and they want it now.

“I am looking forward to hearing a plan for both sides because the plan right now is not working,” said a CSRA resident.

Other big issues people shared are control of immigration and the federal government using funds for the country first and not other countries.

Certainly, there are a lot of issues on the table that are on people’s minds, and they are waiting to hear what both candidates have to say.

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