TV duel - Biden's debacle: Democrats preoccupied with candidate question
After his disastrous performance in the TV debate against challenger Donald Trump, US-President Joe Biden is dismissing calls for an alternative candidate for the presidential election. "I would not run again if I didn't believe in my heart and soul that I could do this job," the 81-year-old said at an event in the state of North Carolina on Friday. A few hours later, he appeared at another event in New York City, closed with two Democratic Party colleagues. "He's the best!", Senator Kirsten Gillibrand shouted after a demonstrative embrace on stage.
Biden was supported at both events by his wife Jill. "There's no one I'd rather see sitting in the Oval Office than my husband," the First Lady emphasized in North Carolina, with the word "Vote" printed on her dress multiple times (approximately: "Go vote"). Despite Biden looking fitter the next day and putting up a fight, his main goal seemed to be damage control. Unlike in the TV studio during the exchange, he also read from teleprompters.
Trump sees an opportunity
Meanwhile, former President Trump took advantage of his opponent's failure. "The question every voter should ask themselves today is not whether Joe Biden can handle a 90-minute TV debate, but whether America can survive four more years with the corrupt Joe Biden in the White House," the Republican said at a campaign event in the state of Virginia, also addressing rumors of a Democratic switch.
"Many people are saying that Joe Biden is dropping out of the race after last night's performance," Trump commented on the situation. However, he didn't believe that would happen. Trump then listed a few of the currently falling names: Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Barack Obama's wife Michelle Obama, and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Democrats on the defensive
Newsom, who had previously publicly supported Biden, made a statement: "I will never abandon President Biden." Newsom, who has been rumored to have ambitions for the presidency, was criticized in a TV interview for Biden's performance, and eventually admitted that his boss had had a "rocky start."
Barack Obama came to his party colleague's aid. "Bad debates happen. Believe me, I know," the former president wrote on the online platform X. "But this election is still a decision between someone who has fought for the common people his entire life, and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth, can distinguish right from wrong, and will be honest with the American people - and someone who shamelessly lies." He attached a link to Biden's campaign team's website, where donations were being collected.
Panic in the party?
Despite the Democrats' visible efforts to project unity, doubts about whether Biden is the right candidate to win against Trump were widespread - both in the ranks of the Democratic Party and in US media.
The "New York Times" published a commentary with the title: "President Biden should drop out of the race to serve his country." CNN quoted an unnamed party figure: "It's hard to argue that Biden should be our candidate." Others spoke of "blatant panic" in the party. "He had a job: to convince America that he is grown for the challenge in his age," said the former democratic senator Claire McCaskill on US broadcaster MSNBC. "And he failed." Democratic representative Andrew Yang, who unsuccessfully ran for the presidency of his party in 2020, wrote on X: "Democrats should nominate someone else - before it's too late."
During the TV debate, Biden spoke vaguely and softly, stammered several times. Democrat Biden is campaigning for a second term in the presidential election in early November. His age was already a topic of discussion in the campaign before. Trump's political opponent is only about three years younger. However, Biden's supporters and his rigid gait regularly cause headlines and raise the question of whether he can really still govern the White House for four more years after a possible election victory.
- Trump saw an opportunity in Biden's debate performance, stating, "The question every voter should ask themselves today is not whether Joe Biden can handle a 90-minute TV debate, but whether America can survive four more years with the corrupt Joe Biden in the White House."
- Donald Trump, the former US President, took advantage of Biden's stumble, using it to fuel his election campaign in Virginia.
- In response to Trump's comments, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama came to Biden's defense.
- Barack Obama wrote on the online platform X, "But this election is still a decision between someone who has fought for the common people his entire life, and someone who only cares about himself."
- California Governor Gavin Newsom, who had previously publicly supported Biden, made a statement, saying, "I will never abandon President Biden."
- Despite Democratic efforts to project unity, doubts about Biden's ability to win against Trump were widespread, with some party figures suggesting he should drop out.
- The "New York Times" published a commentary titled, "President Biden should drop out of the race to serve his country," and CNN quoted an unnamed party figure saying, "It's hard to argue that Biden should be our candidate."
- Republican Joe Biden is campaigning for a second term in the presidential election in early November, but his age and his performance in the debate have become major topics of discussion.
- With the hashtag #USElection2024 trending on social media, speculation about potential alternative Democratic candidates, such as Kirsten Gillibrand and Gavin Newsom, has begun to circulate in America.
