President Biden to commence clean-up after debate flop

Joe Biden, severely injured, aimed to revive his re-election bid on Friday following a debate that unsettled his followers and delighted Donald Trump’s allies.

Democrats were anticipating a strong response from the president, defending his age for a second term and attacking Trump’s criminal past and perceived threat to democracy.

However, what they witnessed was a lackluster performance from Biden – hoarse voice, stumbling over words, holding back punches, appearing bewildered with open-mouthed stares.

Kate Bedingfield, the former White House communications chief for the Democratic party, expressed her disappointment in Joe Biden’s debate performance to CNN.

David Axelrod, a senior advisor during Barack Obama’s presidency, highlighted concerns about Biden’s age impacting his ability to serve as president.

Meanwhile, the president prepared to kick off a major campaign event in North Carolina following days of debate preparation at Camp David.

– ‘Sore throat’ –

Amid scrutiny about his performance and future, he reassured reporters of his success while visiting an Atlanta Waffle House with First Lady Jill Biden.

He mentioned having a sore throat and remarked that debating a liar is challenging. Despite effectively addressing Trump on abortion rights and his involvement in the 2021 violence, he delayed discussing Trump’s criminal convictions and legal issues for nearly 45 minutes, which puzzled many.

Speaking quietly and occasionally losing concentration, he paused for several seconds after stumbling at the beginning of the conversation.

Trump’s performance fell short of being skilled; his speech was filled with lies, and he avoided answering questions about how he plans to address the opioid crisis affecting middle-class households.

He also declined to promise to acknowledge the outcome of the upcoming election, reinforcing the perception that he lacks regard for democracy or legal principles.

According to CNN, Biden made nine inaccurate or deceptive statements, while Trump made a whopping 30, spreading blatant falsehoods on topics such as abortion, the US Capitol riot, healthcare, and NATO.

The Republican, who is scheduled to make an appearance in Virginia on Friday to counter Biden’s rally, skillfully navigated away from the controversial statements that plagued Biden’s speech.

In a peculiar moment, the president mistakenly claimed victory over Medicare as the conversation shifted towards financing the healthcare program for seniors.

A Biden replacement?

Following Biden’s lackluster performance, Democrats began discussing the possibility of seeking a new candidate before their convention in August.

Members of the party, including some within Biden’s own administration, were engaged in frantic communication as it became evident that he was not performing at his best during the debate, according to the New York Times.

Privately, some individuals also debated whether it was still feasible to convince Biden to step down in favor of a younger contender.

A German official involved in U.S. cooperation even suggested that Democrats should consider replacing Biden as their nominee.

There has been much discussion among our group about Newsom, a party strategist told The Hill, although California Governor Gavin Newsom swiftly dismissed any notions of replacing Biden with himself.

Pundits in the Trump camp celebrated the outcome of the night, with Keith Nahigian, a seasoned Republican strategist with experience in six campaigns, expressing to AFP that Biden’s performance was the most disappointing he had witnessed.

Nahigian noted that Biden had actively sought this debate for months but may have inadvertently jeopardized his presidency with his showing. Ralph Reed, head of the conservative Faith and Freedom Coalition, likened the debate to a boxing match that should have been called off early on.