US election - Biden's debate disaster and the party's panic
Joe Biden struggles. With words, with numbers, with his voice. The US President stands next to Donald Trump on the television stage in Atlanta, hunching, trying to form an answer to taxes, national debt, and the economic situation. In one sentence, he confuses Billionaires and Millionaires, millions and billions. In between, he nervously twinkles. Then he begins a sentence that won't end.
"We would be able to ensure that all those things that we need to do - childcare, elder care, making sure that we continue to strengthen our healthcare system," says the 81-year-old, "making sure that we're able to provide for every single person...". Biden has lost his thread. He closes his eyes and starts again. "Claim we have for... for what I have with, um, the Covid..." Again, he closes his eyes and rubs his forehead. "Excuse me, ahem." The most powerful man in the world looks down at his podium. "With dealing with... everything that we have to..." The Democrat looks further down at the podium. Trump turns to him, with a questioning look.
The pause, which is painful to watch, drags on. Then Biden looks up, pushes something incomprehensible about healthcare forward, before CNN moderator Jake Tapper interrupts him and says: "Thank you, Mr. President." Biden's speaking time is up.
Stammering, disorganized, overwhelmed
This is just one of many moments in the first TV debate between the two US presidential candidates in this campaign, where Biden comes across as stammering, disorganized, and unable to keep up with his task at the debate. And in the background, there's Trump, a convicted felon on the stage, an embattled politician who has tried to sabotage democratic elections and spread shameless lies during this debate as well.
Biden comes across as aggressive, going after his opponent multiple times in unusual ways, insulting him as a "loser," "sorry excuse for a human being," and even once as someone with the "moral integrity of a gutter rat." But this doesn't come across as powerful. With a hoarse and at times quiet voice, he struggles through various answers that are often incoherent. In between, there are moments where he stares blankly into space.
The reactions to Biden's performance are devastating, especially within his own party. Biden's age and the debate about his physical and mental condition are already his biggest problems in the campaign. In this first encounter with Trump since four years ago, he was supposed to show the people in the country that he, despite his 81 years, is fully capable of leading the country and defeating Trump. But exactly that didn't happen.
Panic in the party
Biden's vice president Kamala Harris acknowledges in front of the cameras after the debate: "That was a stumbling start, that's clear to everyone." But the ending was strong. However, that assessment is less clear for many viewers. In a first quick survey by CNN, Trump is the clear winner, with a wide margin. Even political commentators, who are usually favorable towards Biden, express shock over his performance, using words like "demoralization" and "campaign disaster." "There will be discussions about whether he should continue," says David Axelrod, Chief Strategist of Biden's former boss, Ex-President Barack Obama.
And behind the scenes, Democrats are indeed talking about this - unthinkable - question: Whether their frontman is weak enough that they need to find an alternative candidate four months before the election. "It's hard to argue that Biden should be our candidate," CNN quotes an unnamed party functionary. Others speak of "panic" in the party.
Plan B for the Democrats?
But could Biden really withdraw from the race? Theoretically, yes. At the end of August, the Democrats are scheduled to meet for their National Convention in Chicago. Originally to officially nominate Biden as their Presidential candidate. But there, the party could still make a quick turnaround and designate a new candidate. Biden would have to step down voluntarily for this, as he has formally won the primaries of his party, and the delegates at the convention are currently bound to the results. Biden could, however, invoke health or family reasons to step aside gracefully. Whether he would be willing to do so is questionable.
And the bigger problem: The party doesn't have a real Plan B. They missed the opportunity to build a successor. Biden himself should be the one to bear this criticism first. The seven-time grandfather claims to be the most qualified person for the job and the only one who can beat Trump. This now seems arrogant.
The natural successor would have been Harris. But she has remained blasé in her Vice President role, barely visible, and has struggled with poor popularity ratings. Given that she was the first woman and the first Black person to ascend to the position, it would have been difficult to establish an alternative candidate over her. And now it's too late.
Even if the option of Biden's exit is theoretically thinkable, it is politically unlikely. Establishing another Democrat on a national stage as an alternative for the Presidency within four months, who is as well-known as Trump, seems hardly possible. Trump's chances of returning to the White House have never been greater.
- The election campaign between Joe Biden and Donald Trump in 2024 is expected to be intense, with economic situation being a key topic discussed during their TV debates, like the one held in Atlanta on CNN.
- During the debate, Biden had a difficult time addressing economic issues, confusion setting in as he mixed up Billionaires and Millionaires, millions and billions.
- CNN moderator Jake Tapper intercepted Biden during his pause, praising him for his time and moving on to the next question.
- CBS News reported that Biden's disorganized and stumbling performance in the Atlanta debate raised concerns within his own party, especially regarding his age and health.
- With Trump confidently advocating for his policies, the #USElection2024 saw Biden's age and capacity to lead the US as a main topic of discussion.
- Kamala Harris, Biden's Vice President, acknowledged the difficulties she witnessed in Atlanta, emphasizing that Biden should address these concerns to maintain his credibility for the upcoming national debates.
- The poll results following the Atlanta debate placed Trump as the clear winner, causing an uproar in the Democratic party and a surge in speculation about potential Plan B candidates for the role of US President.
