Article Summary –
The article discusses two distinct versions of Joe Biden on display during the 2020 presidential campaign: one appeared hesitant and burdened during a debate, causing concern among Democrats, while the other showed confidence and forcefulness during a later appearance, stirring enthusiasm among supporters. The article highlights how Biden’s two performances raised questions about his ability to handle the demands of a campaign and the presidency, especially considering his age. However, it also discusses how Biden’s more robust performance, which included sharp criticisms of opponent Donald Trump, could potentially rally the Democratic coalition if he consistently displays this version of himself.
Biden’s Different Personas Create Stir Among Voters
Millions of viewers saw two distinct Joe Bidens on Thursday. One was hesitating and burdened by age, causing alarm among Democrats. Later, a smaller audience saw a confident Biden delivering forceful arguments against former President Trump, earning cheers from Democrats present.
Biden’s allies wished the dynamic had been reversed. The weak debate performance elicited immediate concern among Trump detractors. Some even pondered the idea of a new candidate.
A subsequent appearance in North Carolina attracted fewer viewers and failed to immediately soothe the anxiety among Washington consultants, pundits and regular voters. However, this later Biden demonstrated his ability to fire up a crowd, a skill he’s honed over his five-decade political career. But concerns about his ability to manage the strain of the campaign, without notes or an audience, persist.
Republicans were quick to dismiss Biden’s ability even before the debate. Trump’s attacks on Biden are likely to increase in the days to come. Some Democrats who had privately expressed doubts began to voice them publicly.
After the debate, Biden offered a lackluster assessment of his performance: “I think we did well”. He later acknowledged the impact of age on his political performance to his supporters, admitting he’s no longer as smooth a speaker as he used to be.
Stark Differences in Biden’s Appearances
The contrast between the two appearances was stark. Despite extensive preparation, Biden struggled to deliver clear critiques of Trump during the debate. His disjointed responses earned Trump an easy rebuttal.
In contrast, the second Biden was more vigorous. With the help of a teleprompter and an enthusiastic crowd, he consistently hit his marks, accusing Trump of lying during the debate and consistently targeting his opponent’s legal woes.
The two Bidens provided drastically different representations of his views on crucial issues like abortion, immigration, taxes and race, leading to viewer confusion. It remains to be seen if Biden’s remarks will gain traction on social media or in the press.
Trump’s supporters face a challenging reality: to defeat Trump, Biden needs to ensure he consistently embodies the more forceful persona. Reid Hoffman, a major Democratic Party donor, echoed this sentiment in an email to his network, expressing hope for Biden’s potential to rebound from weak performances.
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