His performance did little to help him.
President Joe Biden aimed to reassure the nation about his physical and mental capabilities during Thursday night’s debate, but from the outset, the 81-year-old appeared to struggle with his speech, often speaking in a weak, raspy voice. In the early moments, he stumbled over words, misspoke, and occasionally lost his train of thought.
One notable instance occurred when Biden concluded a somewhat disjointed statement by saying, “We finally beat Medicare,” prompting moderators to swiftly transition back to former President Donald Trump. As the debate progressed, Biden did warm up and find a better rhythm, yet he struggled to effectively counter Trump’s arguments or fact-check his statements, which often included misinformation.
Trump capitalized on Biden’s occasional lapses, questioning his understanding of issues like immigration at one point, remarking, “I don’t know if he knows what he said, either.”
About an hour into the debate, a Biden aide attributed his hoarse voice to a cold, though other issues also surfaced. Biden frequently appeared distant when not speaking, and Trump frequently talked over him, accusing him of criminality and spreading falsehoods without significant rebuttal.
The Biden campaign had viewed the debate as a pivotal moment in the election, hoping it would sway voters in his favor, particularly as polls showed a tight race with minimal shifts in recent months. Concerns about Biden’s age and vigor have long shadowed his candidacy, amplified by selectively edited viral videos that suggest moments of confusion or aimlessness.
For many Democrats, instead of a chance to reset perceptions, the debate sparked anxiety. A party strategist involved in presidential campaigns commented, “Democrats just committed collective suicide. Biden sounds hoarse, looks tired, and is rambling.”
Despite these challenges, Biden did have moments of effectiveness during the debate, such as when he quipped to Trump, “Only one of us is a convicted felon, and I’m looking at him,” which reportedly tested well in internal campaign polling.
Overall, while Biden’s campaign acknowledged a less than ideal start, they maintained there was no widespread panic at their Delaware headquarters. The debate’s unique format, with microphones muted at times as agreed upon by both campaigns, added a new dynamic to the confrontational exchange, reminiscent of their first encounter in 2020 marked by Trump’s interruptions and Biden’s famous retort, “Will you shut up, man?”
