In the first political matchup of the 2024 election cycle, President Joe Biden’s debate performance left many Democratic elites in a state of panic. The debate, which featured former President Donald Trump, was marred by Biden’s frequent stumbles and inability to form coherent sentences, leading to widespread concern among his supporters.
Democratic Elites Alarmed by Biden’s Debate Struggles
Biden’s struggle to articulate his points clearly was evident throughout the debate. At times, he appeared to lose his train of thought, delivering responses that were often nonsensical. This performance did not go unnoticed by the panel on CNN, traditionally supportive of the Democratic Party. The panel expressed significant alarm over Biden’s debate conduct, highlighting the growing anxiety within Democratic ranks.
Stunned Media Responses
Immediately after the debate ended, CNN’s John King said “This was a game-changing debate … there is a deep, a wide, and a very aggressive panic in the democratic party. It started minutes into the debate and it continues right now. It involves party strategists, elected officials and fundraisers. They’re having conversations about the president’s performance, which they think was dismal, that will hurt other people in the party down the ticket.”
Abby Philip, a CNN anchor said “[it is] deeply problematic that Biden was unable to take straightforward [questions] and answer them for the American public. … There’s some real concern here tonight that there’s been some real damage done, that cannot be undone.”
David Urban, a former Trump campaign advisor said, “If anyone in America thinks that was in any way an OK debate by Joe Biden, I’m living in a parallel universe. That was an unmitigated disaster by president Biden from the second he walked out, to the closing statement.”
Van Jones, former Obama advisor said “That was painful. I love Joe Biden. He did not do well at all … he did not do well at all. … He had a test to meet tonight, to restore confidence in the country and the base, and he failed to do that.”
Reactions from Various Sources
According to Business Insider, Biden’s debate performance was chaotic and disappointing. The New Republic described the event as a disaster for Biden, emphasizing his inability to effectively counter Trump’s arguments. Yahoo News also reported on Biden’s frequent “freezing” on stage, which further fueled concerns about his capability to handle the pressures of a presidential campaign.
Implications for Biden’s Campaign
The fallout from Biden’s debate performance could have serious implications for his re-election campaign. With the election looming, Democratic strategists are reportedly scrambling to mitigate the damage and bolster Biden’s public image. The debate has underscored the urgency for the Biden campaign to address these issues head-on.
Trump’s Missed Opportunities
While Biden’s performance was notably weak, former President Donald Trump also faced criticism for his approach during the debate. Trump was distracted by Biden’s attacks, spending a significant amount of time rebutting what he described as lies. This focus on countering Biden’s points prevented Trump from effectively pivoting to his main messages and questioning Biden’s policies more aggressively.
Room for Improvement
Additionally, Trump could have delivered a stronger wrap-up, one that projected a more hopeful vision for the future. While he managed to highlight some of his achievements and critique Biden’s record, the conclusion of his debate performance lacked the inspirational tone that could have energized his base and appealed to undecided voters. Moving forward, a more strategic approach could help Trump capitalize on Biden’s weaknesses and present a more compelling case to the electorate.
Debate Casts Shadow Over Biden
The first debate has cast a shadow over Biden’s re-election efforts, raising questions about his readiness for another term. As the Democratic Party grapples with the aftermath, the focus will undoubtedly shift to finding strategies to regain momentum and reassure voters.
Democrat Elites Lied About Biden
It is now clear to all but the most committed democrat voters, that democrat elites lied about Joe Biden being up to the job. Now they have a big problem because they don’t have a solid candidate who could take on Donald Trump and voters can see Jo Biden can’t either. Many democrat supporters will also now realize that Biden has not been running the show at all. They may be asking who is in the back room pulling the strings orchestrating this debacle.
Democrat elites and the media already commanded little trust. Now, after Biden’s debate performance horror show, democrat voters probably don’t know what to do.
