Article Summary –
President Biden’s recent debate performance has ignited concerns among Democrats about his ability to campaign effectively for re-election, with his age becoming a significant issue. His debate against Donald Trump was characterized by Biden’s struggle to deliver his lines and counter Trump’s claims, leading to calls from some Democrats for him to step aside for a younger candidate. Despite these concerns, Biden’s advisers have dismissed speculation about him dropping out, emphasizing that he will remain the nominee and continue to defend his record and achievements against his opponent.
Biden’s Presidential Bid under Scrutiny after Debate Performance
President Biden’s recent debate performance, ahead of his formal nomination, triggered a wave of panic among Democrats. Instead of gaining momentum for his re-election campaign, his disjointed delivery led to speculations about his suitability as the nominee.
Throughout the 90-minute debate, Biden struggled to counter former President Donald Trump’s sharp but dishonest assertions. This sparked concerns about the incumbent president’s ability to run an aggressive, competitive campaign months before the election. Biden, aged 81, brought his age to the forefront rather than dispelling the doubts around it.
Democrats, who have defended Biden for months, became a flurry of frantic phone and text messages as the debate unfolded. Some expressed shock on social media, while others began questioning if a younger candidate should replace Biden.
A group of House Democrats watching the debate collectively acknowledged it as a “disaster” for Biden. They began discussing the need for a new presidential nominee. Even Mark Buell, a prominent donor for Biden and the Democratic Party, questioned whether he is the right person to be the nominee after the debate.
Biden had planned to use the early debate as a tool to redirect the narrative against his opponent, Trump. Instead, he left the debate with questions about his capacity echoing around him.
Trump, though at times offering convoluted and hard-to-follow statements, did so with an energy that managed to cover up his misstatements. Biden, meanwhile, appeared defensive and struggled to deliver lines prepared by his campaign.
Despite the concerns raised about his performance and calls for his exit, Biden rejected the idea. After the debate, he admitted to battling a cold but expressed satisfaction with his performance.
Biden’s advisers dismissed speculation about him dropping out, citing his lead in battleground states required for victory in the fall. They reject the nervousness as unjustified and maintain that Biden would not step back. Biden’s campaign dispatched Vice President Kamala Harris to defend him, even though she acknowledged the “slow start.”
Speculation about Biden’s exit did not die down, despite senior Democratic figures like Gov. Gavin Newsom of California backing him. Andrew Yang, a former Democratic nomination contender, suggested on social media that the Democrats should nominate someone else. Even Biden’s perceived odds of winning the nomination fell on PredictIt.org, a betting site for political events.
Democratic leaders, including Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. James E. Clyburn, were speculated to intervene with Biden, but there was no indication of them agreeing to such actions. While Biden’s performance may have been a stumble, incumbent presidents often recover with stronger subsequent performances, as was the case with Ronald Reagan in 1984.
However, no other debate is scheduled until September 10, leaving Biden with limited opportunities to recover. His debate performance has not reset the campaign in his favor, and his team will now focus on damage control and rallying the party behind their leader.
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