He, however, believes that he “did well”
US President Joe Biden's performance in last night's debate with Donald Trump has alarmed top Democrats, with some openly questioning whether he can make it in November's presidential election against Republican mogul, according to CNN.
“He seemed a little disoriented. As the debate progressed he grew louder. But by that time, I think the panic had set in,” said Democrat David Axelrod, a top strategist to former President Barack Obama and senior political commentator for CNN.
Axelrod also did , also referring to a discussion among several Democrats Thursday night: “There will be discussions about whether he should continue.”
I've never been a fan of President Donald Trump – but he's absolutely destroying Joe Biden in this debate… Trump is also being surprisingly generous here. This is an embarrassment to the DNC #Debates2024 pic.twitter.com/eJd76h7vjp
— Andy Signore (@andysignore) June 28, 2024
< p>For his part, Joe Biden said yesterday, Thursday night, that he “did well” in the debate with rival Donald Trump, while the reactions to the performance of the Democratic president are much more moderate even in his camp.
“I think we did well,” Joe Biden said as he left the debate, stopping at a Georgia restaurant where supporters had gathered to watch. The American president added that it is “difficult to talk to a liar”.
It is noted that the 81-year-old Democratic president was hoarse and suffered from a cough in the first minutes of the debate, while at one point he seemed to lose his train of thought. However, he then showed more composure and launched frequent attacks on his opponent. The two men clashed over abortion, immigration, the war in Ukraine and Gaza, the management of the economy and even golf, as they tried to win back points and voters at a time when polls have shown them battling for months chest to chest.
“Prior to Thursday night, many Americans had expressed concerns about Joe Biden's age and fitness for office. To say that this debate did not allay those concerns is perhaps an understatement,” writes the BBC.
“The president was monotone, talkative, vague,” the report continues. “About midway through the debate, the Biden campaign told reporters that the president was dealing with a cold — an attempt to explain his rough voice. That may be so, but it also sounded like an excuse.”.
“Especially early in the evening, some of his answers were nonsensical. After losing his train of thought, he closed a reply by saying: “Finally, we've beaten Medicare” – an odd reference to the government's health care scheme for the elderly,” notes the BBC.
At the same time, international media such as Reuters and Agence France-Presse speak of a rather weak and ineffective performance against a Donald Trump who constantly attacked him on various issues, often saying inaccuracies .
The Democrat's campaign and allies tried to show that they were not affected by his performance, but it is certainly a blow to his candidacy, at least in the short term.
US Vice President Kamala Harris assured that Biden “started slow, but finished strong.” “He made a difficult start, it was obvious to everyone, I don't doubt that,” he added.
About midway through the debate, a Democratic strategist who worked on Biden's 2020 campaign called it a “disaster.”
“There's no way we can change this. His performance takes him out of the race,” said a major Democratic donor, who wished to remain anonymous, after the debate.
He estimated that there will be new pressure to switch candidates at the National Congress. Democrats in August, when Biden's candidacy will have to be officially ratified.
At the start of the debate, Biden paused while talking about Medicare and tax reform and seemed to lose his cool. Tax reform will bring in more money “to strengthen our health care system to make sure that every person is eligible for what I've been able to do with, with covid, sorry, with dealing with everything we've been dealing with,” he said Biden, pausing to add, “we finally defeated Medicare.”
Trump commented that Biden is clueless and at one point said: “I honestly don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows either.”
“Democratic congressmen are worried,” said a congressional worker. She added that the senator she works for “is sitting with other important staff and panicking.”
As Biden struggled to cope, Trump made baseless and often untrue statements on a range of issues, including that Democrats support infanticide and that immigrants have caused a crime wave.
“Trump is Trump, every word that comes out of his mouth is mine. But Biden sounds old. And lost. And that will count more than anything. So far this is an absolute nightmare for Biden,” said 2020 Republican candidate Joe Walsh in the U.
Both Biden and 78-year-old Trump – the two oldest presidential candidates in US history – are under pressure to prove they are physically and mentally fit for the duties of president.
The polls< /strong>
The telefight came at a time when the US appears deeply polarized, with voters deeply concerned about American politics. Two-thirds of voters said in a Reuters/Ipsos poll in May that they were worried violence would break out after the election.
Although polls show Biden and Trump neck and neck, the Republican is ahead in the most lopsided states that usually decide the outcome of presidential elections.
However, neither is particularly popular and many Americans are undecided. yet who will they choose? About a fifth of voters say they are undecided, leaning toward a third candidate or will not vote, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll.
It should be noted that last night's debate was hosted in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the key states for the outcome of the November election. It was hosted by CNN and hosted by reporters Jake Tapper and Dana Bass. It was held without an audience, with timed answers and a closed microphone to the candidate who did not have the floor.
A second debate between Biden and Trump is scheduled on the ABC network on September 10, two months before the crucial presidential election. in the US.