His performance was abysmal.
The debate posed a significant gamble for Joe Biden, and its outcome appears more costly than anticipated, given his widely criticized performance. Some Democrats now express concern about the possibility of replacing Biden on the ticket, though his campaign insists the debate should not disqualify him as a candidate.
Initially, Biden’s team believed that facing Donald Trump early would highlight Trump’s contentious style and benefit Biden’s image of stability. However, this strategy seemed to backfire within minutes of the debate starting.
Biden appeared shaky and hoarse, at times trailing off in his speech, which surprised even his own advisers. His comment about “beating Medicare” was swiftly countered by Trump, and Biden’s initial performance left his team concerned, attributing his hoarseness to a cold that hadn’t been disclosed to viewers beforehand.
Despite the rocky start, Biden gradually regained his footing as the debate progressed, delivering a few standout lines that his campaign plans to amplify through social media. While Biden’s aides acknowledged the less-than-ideal start, they maintained there was no widespread panic within the campaign headquarters.
Amid Biden’s struggles, his campaign found solace in a positive fundraising day and highlighted negative voter reactions to Trump’s defense of his actions on January 6, 2021. Despite calls from some Democratic strategists and opinion-makers for Biden to step aside, the campaign emphasizes that the fundamental choice for voters remains between a stable Biden administration and what they view as Trump’s threat to democratic norms.
Looking ahead, Biden’s team hopes that voters will focus on the broader stakes of the election despite his debate performance. However, the debate did not present the confident and forceful Biden seen in other contexts, leaving some disappointed with the outcome.
