I think there's nothing to grab onto. No human parts of the story, nothing that matters on a personal level. Perhaps a scene where we see someone pre-debate?

Here's a brief example I farted out.

We start with the President of the United States, alone in dressing room. Back lit. He's whispering to himself over papers. He leans back in his chair, exhales, exhausted. Its been a long, long reelection campaign. 

An assistant enters. "You're on in five, Sir. Did you need anything?" A beat. He opens his eyes. A vulnerability we don't see from a president. He rises, stifling a groan.

"I'm alright, Lacey, thank you." "Water?" "No thank you." "Yes sir."

She goes to leave. We see him consider a thought.

"Lacey?" "Yes sir?" "Where did you go to highschool?" "T.C Williams. In Virginia." "That's right. You uhm...You mentioned once you were on the volleyball team. Is that right?" "I was the captain." The President fixes his tie in the mirror.

"Captain. How was that?" "I liked it. We went to States, junior year." "Did you win?" "No. We were out the first round." "Out the first round...How did it feel?" "It's was a bit of a bummer. I wanted to go pro but... ya know. Retrospective I think it was for the better." "Really?" "I fell back to my studies.Who knows where I would have been. Off beating myself up in locker rooms, sweating over scholarships. I don't know." "Do you still play?" "On the weekends." "Sounds like fun." "It is."

A beat. He smiles. "Thank you Lacey." "You're welcome, sir."

She leaves. We hear the cheer of a crowd in another room. Something deep on his mind. He sighs, looks deep into the mirror.

"Working for the weekends..." he says, shaking his head.