CORRESPONDENT PETER ALEXANDER NOW WITH HOW IT ALL CAME TOGETHER.

ALEXANDER NOW WITH HOW IT ALL CAME TOGETHER. >> BEFORE I GET

IT ALL CAME TOGETHER. >> BEFORE I GET STARTED --

>> BEFORE I GET STARTED -- >> Reporter: TONIGHT

STARTED -- >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE STAGE IS SET FOR

>> Reporter: TONIGHT THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE FIRST TV

THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE FIRST TV CONFRONTATION BETWEEN

THE FIRST TV CONFRONTATION BETWEEN PRESIDENT BIDEN AND

CONFRONTATION BETWEEN PRESIDENT BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP

PRESIDENT BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IN MORE THAN THREE

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IN MORE THAN THREE YEARS.

IN MORE THAN THREE YEARS. THE AGREEMENT

YEARS. THE AGREEMENT PUNCTUATING A DIZZYING

THE AGREEMENT PUNCTUATING A DIZZYING DAY OF DEAL-MAKING.

PUNCTUATING A DIZZYING DAY OF DEAL-MAKING. THE PRESIDENT POSTING

DAY OF DEAL-MAKING. THE PRESIDENT POSTING THIS VIDEO RESPONDING

THE PRESIDENT POSTING THIS VIDEO RESPONDING TO WEEKS OF PRESSURE

THIS VIDEO RESPONDING TO WEEKS OF PRESSURE FROM MR. TRUMP FOR A

TO WEEKS OF PRESSURE FROM MR. TRUMP FOR A DEBATE.

FROM MR. TRUMP FOR A DEBATE. >> DONALD TRUMP LOST

DEBATE. >> DONALD TRUMP LOST TWO DEBATES TO ME IN

>> DONALD TRUMP LOST TWO DEBATES TO ME IN 2020.

TWO DEBATES TO ME IN 2020. SINCE THEN HE HASN'T

2020. SINCE THEN HE HASN'T SHOWN UP FOR DEBATES.

SINCE THEN HE HASN'T SHOWN UP FOR DEBATES. NOW HE'S ACTING LIKE

SHOWN UP FOR DEBATES. NOW HE'S ACTING LIKE HE WANTS TO DEBATE ME

NOW HE'S ACTING LIKE HE WANTS TO DEBATE ME AGAIN.

HE WANTS TO DEBATE ME AGAIN. WELL, MAKE MY DAY,

AGAIN. WELL, MAKE MY DAY, PAL.

WELL, MAKE MY DAY, PAL. >> Reporter: TAUNTING

PAL. >> Reporter: TAUNTING HIM OVER THE HUSH

>> Reporter: TAUNTING HIM OVER THE HUSH MONEY TRIAL THAT KEPT

HIM OVER THE HUSH MONEY TRIAL THAT KEPT HIM IN COURT FOUR DAYS

MONEY TRIAL THAT KEPT HIM IN COURT FOUR DAYS A WITH.

HIM IN COURT FOUR DAYS A WITH. >> SO LET'S PICK THE

A WITH. >> SO LET'S PICK THE DATE, DONALD.

>> SO LET'S PICK THE DATE, DONALD. I HEAR YOU'RE FREE ON

DATE, DONALD. I HEAR YOU'RE FREE ON WEDNESDAYS.

I HEAR YOU'RE FREE ON WEDNESDAYS. >> Reporter: THERE'S

WEDNESDAYS. >> Reporter: THERE'S TRADITIONAL THREE

>> Reporter: THERE'S TRADITIONAL THREE DEBATES.

TRADITIONAL THREE DEBATES. THE PRESIDENT OFFERING

DEBATES. THE PRESIDENT OFFERING TWO.

THE PRESIDENT OFFERING TWO. MR. TRUMP WHO REFUSED

TWO. MR. TRUMP WHO REFUSED ALL OF THE PRIMARY

MR. TRUMP WHO REFUSED ALL OF THE PRIMARY DEBATES QUICKLY SAYING

ALL OF THE PRIMARY DEBATES QUICKLY SAYING YES AND PUSHING FOR

DEBATES QUICKLY SAYING YES AND PUSHING FOR MORE WRITING, I'M

YES AND PUSHING FOR MORE WRITING, I'M READY AND WILLING TO

MORE WRITING, I'M READY AND WILLING TO DEBATE CROOKED JOE.

READY AND WILLING TO DEBATE CROOKED JOE. I WOULD STRONGLY

DEBATE CROOKED JOE. I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND MORE THAN

I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND MORE THAN TWO DEBATES AND FOR

RECOMMEND MORE THAN TWO DEBATES AND FOR EXCITEMENT PURPOSES A

TWO DEBATES AND FOR EXCITEMENT PURPOSES A VERY LARGE VENUE, JUST

EXCITEMENT PURPOSES A VERY LARGE VENUE, JUST TELL ME WHEN, I'LL BE

VERY LARGE VENUE, JUST TELL ME WHEN, I'LL BE THERE.

TELL ME WHEN, I'LL BE THERE. WITHIN HOURS A PAIR OF

THERE. WITHIN HOURS A PAIR OF DATES WERE SET, ONE IN

WITHIN HOURS A PAIR OF DATES WERE SET, ONE IN LATE JUNE, ANOTHER IN

DATES WERE SET, ONE IN LATE JUNE, ANOTHER IN SEPTEMBER.

LATE JUNE, ANOTHER IN SEPTEMBER. BOTH SIDES BYPASSING

SEPTEMBER. BOTH SIDES BYPASSING THE COMMISSION ON

BOTH SIDES BYPASSING THE COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES'

THE COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES' PROPOSAL FOR THREE

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES' PROPOSAL FOR THREE FALL SHOWDOWNS.

PROPOSAL FOR THREE FALL SHOWDOWNS. PRESIDENT BIDEN'S

FALL SHOWDOWNS. PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DECISION COMES AFTER

PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DECISION COMES AFTER FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP

DECISION COMES AFTER FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP REPEATEDLY CHALLENGED

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP REPEATEDLY CHALLENGED HIM TO DEBATE.

REPEATEDLY CHALLENGED HIM TO DEBATE. >> YOU CAN SEE, WE

HIM TO DEBATE. >> YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE AN EMPTY PODIUM

>> YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE AN EMPTY PODIUM RIGHT HERE TO MY

HAVE AN EMPTY PODIUM RIGHT HERE TO MY RIGHT.

RIGHT HERE TO MY RIGHT. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS?

RIGHT. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? THAT'S FOR JOE BIDEN.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? THAT'S FOR JOE BIDEN. I'M TRYING TO GET HIM

THAT'S FOR JOE BIDEN. I'M TRYING TO GET HIM TO DEBATE.

I'M TRYING TO GET HIM TO DEBATE. >> Reporter: THE JUNE

TO DEBATE. >> Reporter: THE JUNE 27th FACE-OFF WITH NO

>> Reporter: THE JUNE 27th FACE-OFF WITH NO AUDIENCE WILL COME AT

27th FACE-OFF WITH NO AUDIENCE WILL COME AT A CRITICAL MOMENT WITH

AUDIENCE WILL COME AT A CRITICAL MOMENT WITH RECENT POLLS SHOWING

A CRITICAL MOMENT WITH RECENT POLLS SHOWING MR. TRUMP IN A STRONG

RECENT POLLS SHOWING MR. TRUMP IN A STRONG POSITION IN SOME KEY

MR. TRUMP IN A STRONG POSITION IN SOME KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES.

POSITION IN SOME KEY BATTLEGROUND STATES. AND SHORTLY AFTER THE

BATTLEGROUND STATES. AND SHORTLY AFTER THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S

AND SHORTLY AFTER THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S CRIMINAL TRIAL IS

FORMER PRESIDENT'S CRIMINAL TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO WRAP UP.

CRIMINAL TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO WRAP UP. TODAY SENATOR MITT

EXPECTED TO WRAP UP. TODAY SENATOR MITT ROMNEY, A FIERCE TRUMP

TODAY SENATOR MITT ROMNEY, A FIERCE TRUMP CRITIC ARGUING THE

ROMNEY, A FIERCE TRUMP CRITIC ARGUING THE PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE

CRITIC ARGUING THE PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE PARDONED MR. TRUMP.

PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE PARDONED MR. TRUMP. >> THAT WOULD HAVE

PARDONED MR. TRUMP. >> THAT WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY PARDONED

>> THAT WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY PARDONED HIM.

IMMEDIATELY PARDONED HIM. I'D HAVE PARDONED

HIM. I'D HAVE PARDONED PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I'D HAVE PARDONED PRESIDENT TRUMP. WHY?

PRESIDENT TRUMP. WHY? OH, BECAUSE IT MAKES

WHY? OH, BECAUSE IT MAKES ME PRESIDENT BIDEN THE

OH, BECAUSE IT MAKES ME PRESIDENT BIDEN THE BIG GUY AND THE PERSON

ME PRESIDENT BIDEN THE BIG GUY AND THE PERSON I PARDON THE LITTLE

BIG GUY AND THE PERSON I PARDON THE LITTLE GUY.

I PARDON THE LITTLE GUY. >> Reporter: THE

GUY. >> Reporter: THE DEBATE IS CERTAIN TO

>> Reporter: THE DEBATE IS CERTAIN TO BE A BITTER BATTLE

DEBATE IS CERTAIN TO BE A BITTER BATTLE WITH THE PRESIDENT AND

BE A BITTER BATTLE WITH THE PRESIDENT AND HIS PREDECESSOR

WITH THE PRESIDENT AND HIS PREDECESSOR TRADING INSULTS.

HIS PREDECESSOR TRADING INSULTS. >> THE WORST

TRADING INSULTS. >> THE WORST PRESIDENT -- GIVE ME

>> THE WORST PRESIDENT -- GIVE ME THE TEN WORST NAMES.

PRESIDENT -- GIVE ME THE TEN WORST NAMES. THEY HAVEN'T DONE THE

THE TEN WORST NAMES. THEY HAVEN'T DONE THE DAMAGE TO OUR COUNTRY

THEY HAVEN'T DONE THE DAMAGE TO OUR COUNTRY THAT THIS TOTAL MORON

DAMAGE TO OUR COUNTRY THAT THIS TOTAL MORON HAS DONE.

THAT THIS TOTAL MORON HAS DONE. >> Reporter: AND FOR

HAS DONE. >> Reporter: AND FOR MR. BIDEN JUST TODAY.

>> Reporter: AND FOR MR. BIDEN JUST TODAY. >> THE GUY HAS SORT OF

MR. BIDEN JUST TODAY. >> THE GUY HAS SORT OF LOST HIS MOORING.

>> THE GUY HAS SORT OF LOST HIS MOORING. HE SEEMS LIKE THE GUY

LOST HIS MOORING. HE SEEMS LIKE THE GUY WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHAT

HE SEEMS LIKE THE GUY WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL HE'S DOING

WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL HE'S DOING ANYMORE.

THE HELL HE'S DOING ANYMORE. >> Reporter: IN AN

ANYMORE. >> Reporter: IN AN ALREADY UNPRECEDENTED

>> Reporter: IN AN ALREADY UNPRECEDENTED CAMPAIGN THE FIRST

ALREADY UNPRECEDENTED CAMPAIGN THE FIRST CRUCIAL CLASH NOW THE

CAMPAIGN THE FIRST CRUCIAL CLASH NOW THE EARLIEST IN MODERN

CRUCIAL CLASH NOW THE EARLIEST IN MODERN HISTORY.

EARLIEST IN MODERN HISTORY. >> THIS MEANS THIS

HISTORY. >> THIS MEANS THIS HAPPENS BEFORE THE

>> THIS MEANS THIS HAPPENS BEFORE THE CONVENTIONS?

HAPPENS BEFORE THE CONVENTIONS? >> THAT'S RIGHT LIKELY

CONVENTIONS? >> THAT'S RIGHT LIKELY EVEN BEFORE MR. TRUMP

>> THAT'S RIGHT LIKELY EVEN BEFORE MR. TRUMP HAS PICKED HIS VICE

EVEN BEFORE MR. TRUMP HAS PICKED HIS VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE

HAS PICKED HIS VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE HERE, THE FORMER

PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE HERE, THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS NOW

HERE, THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS NOW SAYING HE ACCEPTED AN

PRESIDENT IS NOW SAYING HE ACCEPTED AN OFFER FOR A THIRD

SAYING HE ACCEPTED AN OFFER FOR A THIRD DEBATE IN OCTOBER.

OFFER FOR A THIRD DEBATE IN OCTOBER. THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN,

DEBATE IN OCTOBER. THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN, THOUGH, THEY ARE

THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN, THOUGH, THEY ARE BRUSHING THAT OFF,

THOUGH, THEY ARE BRUSHING THAT OFF, LESTER, TELLING ME NO

BRUSHING THAT OFF, LESTER, TELLING ME NO MORE GAMES, NO MORE