President  Trump is trailing Biden in most national and battleground state polls, making the debate the incumbent's last best chance to change the trajectory of a race that, with less than two weeks to run, appears to favor the challenger. 

There are always voters left who have not decided whom to support. And there are those who may need an extra last-minute nudge to turn out.

This time, the Commission on Presidential Debates has given the green light to an in-person face-off, but with one unprecedented change: The candidates will have their microphones cut off while their opponents respond to the first question of each of the debate's six segments. 

Kristen Welker of NBC News will moderate the debate, which will take place in Nashville, Tennessee.

It will begin at 8 a.m Hanoi time (1 a.m UTC)  and run for 90 minutes. 

The topics slated for discussion include "Fighting COVID-19," "American Families," "Race in America," "Climate Change," "National Security" and "Leadership."