‘Babbling’ and ‘Hoarse’: Biden’s Debate Performance Sends Democrats into a Panic
ATLANTA — President Joe Biden was supposed to reassure the nation about his physical and mental capacity during his debate against Donald Trump on Thursday night. However, from the onset, Biden, 81, seemed to struggle even to speak, his voice weak and raspy. The debate, which Democrats hoped would be a turning point, instead became a moment of concern and disappointment.
In the opening minutes, Biden repeatedly tripped over his words, misspoke, and lost his train of thought. One of the most notable moments was when he ended a rambling statement with, “We finally beat Medicare,” before the moderators cut him off and transitioned back to Trump.
While Biden warmed up and found more rhythm as the debate progressed, he struggled to land significant punches against Trump or fact-check his torrent of misinformation. Trump seized on Biden’s struggles, saying at one point, “I don’t know if he knows what he said, either,” in response to Biden’s comments on the border.
Nearly an hour into the debate, Biden aides explained his hoarseness as the result of a cold. However, the shakiness of Biden’s voice was just one of the problems. When not speaking, Biden often stared off into the distance, giving the impression of disengagement. Trump frequently steamrolled over Biden, accusing him of being a criminal and spreading misinformation, often without a response from Biden.
A Critical Moment
The Biden campaign acknowledged the debate as a critical moment in the election, with officials hoping it could shift the race in his favor. Most polls show the race to be neck and neck, with razor-thin margins that have remained unchanged even after Trump’s legal troubles.
Questions about Biden’s age and frailty have weighed down his polling numbers for months. The debate was Biden’s first significant opportunity since the State of the Union to dispel these concerns. Instead, many Democrats saw it as a cause for panic.
“Democrats just committed collective suicide,” said a party strategist who has worked on presidential campaigns. “Biden sounds hoarse, looks tired, and is babbling. He is reaffirming everything voters already perceived. President Biden can’t win. This debate is a nail in the political coffin.”
“It’s hard to argue that we shouldn’t nominate someone else,” a Democratic consultant added.
Highlights and Defenses
Biden did have moments of strength as the debate progressed. “Only one of us is a convicted felon, and I’m looking at him,” he said to Trump, a remark that tested well in the Biden campaign’s internal polling during the debate.
Despite the shaky start, Biden’s campaign maintained there was “no mass panic” at headquarters in Delaware. The muting of the candidates’ microphones added a new dimension to the debate, avoiding the interruptions that marked their 2020 faceoff.
Reactions from Across the Political Spectrum
Reactions poured in from both sides of the political aisle. “I’m thinking the Democrats are thinking about who the Barry Goldwater is who can walk in tomorrow and tell the president he needs to step aside,” said Ben Proto, chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party, referencing the historical moment when Sen. Barry Goldwater advised President Richard Nixon to resign during Watergate.
Biden’s campaign defended his performance, emphasizing his “positive and winning vision” for America. “On the other side of the stage was Donald Trump, who offered a dark and backwards window into what America will look like if he steps foot back in the White House,” Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said.
Some Democrats also pointed to Biden’s policies over Trump’s. “One thing this debate won’t change is Trump’s base instinct to sell out anyone to make a quick buck or put his own image on a steak, golf course, or even the Holy Bible,” said Brandon Weathersby, a spokesman with the pro-Biden American Bridge 21st Century super PAC.
Setting the Stage for November
The debate covered a wide range of topics, but many centered on the prominent campaign issues of immigration and inflation. Trump attacked Biden on these points, while Biden tried to highlight Trump’s threat to democracy, referencing the January 6 insurrection.
“Debates move numbers,” said Matt Gorman, a longtime Republican strategist. “And with this so early — and the next one not until September — you’re stuck with the narrative for four long months.”
The expectations for Biden were low, and by most accounts, he was unable to clear them. “After Biden’s debate performance, it seems the floor is 6 feet under,” a former Trump campaign official quipped.
As the dust settles from this first debate, both camps are preparing for the next round, where Biden will have another chance to change the narrative and prove his capability to lead the nation.
