 two candidates will debate tonight in atlanta with the event hosted by cnn and a new poll released on the eve of the first presidential debate says former president trump has taken the lead over president biden nationally with all eyes on the first debate a new quinnipiac poll says 73 of voters will likely watch the debate and 16 say each candidate's performance in the debate could lead them to changing their vote the poll also finds that trump now leads president biden 49 to 45 percent head-to-head