Biden seeks campaign reset after debate performance stumbles
Despite days of preparation, Biden’s responses were often delayed and unclear, particularly when addressing Trump's legal issues and the January 6th Capitol riot.
Biden seeks campaign reset after debate performance stumbles
President Joe Biden is striving to rejuvenate his reelection campaign following a debate performance that left supporters worried and delighted Trump allies.
The debate, held on June 27, 2024, saw Biden struggle with his delivery, often appearing hoarse, stumbling over words, and losing focus.
Many Democrats had hoped Biden would robustly counter critiques of his age and challenge Trump on his criminal record and perceived threats to democracy. Instead, the debate highlighted concerns about Biden’s fitness for a second term, with even allies like former White House communications chief Kate Bedingfield acknowledging the poor performance on CNN.
David Axelrod, a senior advisor in the Obama administration, stated that Biden’s showing reinforced concerns about his age.
Despite days of preparation, Biden’s responses were often delayed and unclear, particularly when addressing Trump’s legal issues and the January 6th Capitol riot.
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Although Biden managed to question Trump on abortion rights and his role in the 2021 violence, he waited nearly 45 minutes to bring up Trump’s felony convictions.
Trump, while also making numerous false claims, avoided major blunders and deflected questions about significant issues like the opioid crisis.
Following the debate, Biden attempted damage control, citing a sore throat and the challenge of debating a “liar.”
He continued his campaign with an event in North Carolina, while speculation about potential Democratic replacements, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom, began to circulate. However, Newsom quickly dismissed the idea of stepping in for Biden.
Trump’s supporters, meanwhile, celebrated what they saw as a decisive victory. Republican strategist Keith Nahigian and conservative leader Ralph Reed both criticized Biden’s performance, suggesting it might have severely harmed his campaign.