Debate Performance
On Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden affirmed his intention to defeat Republican rival Donald Trump in the upcoming November presidential election, showing no signs of considering withdrawal despite a lackluster debate performance that left many Democrats disheartened.
At a rally in North Carolina, an upbeat Biden addressed his supporters the day after his widely criticized debate against Trump. “I know I’m not a young man, to state the obvious,” the 81-year-old president acknowledged. “I don’t walk as easy as I used to, I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to, I don’t debate as well as I used to,” he said, as the crowd chanted “four more years.” Biden emphasized his commitment, stating, “I would not be running again if I didn’t believe with all my heart and soul that I could do this job. The stakes are too high.”
Biden’s verbal missteps and occasionally rambling responses during the debate have raised voter concerns about his fitness for another term and spurred some Democrats to contemplate finding a replacement candidate for the November 5 election.
However, campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler dismissed such speculation, stating, “We’d rather have one bad night than a candidate with a bad vision for where he wants to take the country.”
To reassure staff, the campaign held an urgent meeting on Friday afternoon, affirming Biden’s continued candidacy. Despite Trump’s repeated falsehoods during the debate, the post-debate focus was largely on Biden, especially among Democrats.
Democratic Party leader Hakeem Jeffries sidestepped questions about his confidence in Biden’s candidacy, saying, “I support the ticket. I support the Senate Democratic majority. We’re going to do everything possible to take back the House in November.” Similarly, Democratic Senator Jack Reed refrained from directly addressing whether Biden should remain in the race, commenting, “That’s the president’s decision.”
Nevertheless, prominent Democrats, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, expressed their unwavering support for Biden. Obama remarked on social media, “Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and somebody who only cares about himself.”
The Biden campaign reported raising $14 million over Thursday and Friday, with its highest single hour of fundraising occurring immediately after the debate.
In contrast, the Trump campaign reported $8 million raised on the night of the debate. Preliminary viewership data indicated that 48 million Americans watched the debate, significantly fewer than the 73 million who tuned in for the candidates’ previous face-off in 2020.
Despite his shaky debate performance, Biden, the oldest president in American history, has secured enough support to guarantee his position as the Democratic nominee. Trump, who overcame his primary challengers early in the year, is poised for a contentious general election battle.
If Biden were to step aside, the Democratic Party would have less than two months to select a new nominee at its national convention, which begins on August 19. This scenario could lead to a competitive process involving Vice President Kamala Harris and other prominent figures.
At a rally in Chesapeake, Virginia, Trump claimed victory in the debate, declaring Biden’s primary issue to be his competence, not his age. Trump’s advisers believe the debate performance could improve their prospects in Democratic-leaning states like Virginia.
While some Trump supporters voiced concerns about Biden being replaced by a stronger candidate, Trump fundraisers reported increased enthusiasm from donors. However, Trump himself faces significant legal challenges, including a recent conviction in New York and upcoming sentencing, as well as three other criminal indictments.
Biden’s debate performance has drawn international attention, leading to public calls for him to step aside and potentially prompting America’s allies to brace for a possible Trump return.
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