President Biden’s decision to participate in a debate months before his re-election bid backfired when he struggled to deliver his lines and counter former President Trump’s dishonesty. This performance sparked panic among Democrats, who questioned whether Biden should be the nominee at all. Some Democrats even discussed the possibility of persuading Biden to step aside in favor of a younger candidate. The debate had been intended to position Biden as a preferable choice over Trump, but it instead drew attention to Biden’s age and capability.
Despite Biden’s struggles, Trump appeared confident and managed to stay on offense, even while making false statements. Biden, meanwhile, appeared defensive and failed to effectively challenge his opponent. Biden cited battling a sore throat as a reason for his performance but expressed satisfaction with how he had done. His advisors have dismissed calls for him to drop out, emphasizing that he is the nominee and no one else will be nominated to challenge Trump.
After the debate, Democrats were in a state of crisis, with speculation about whether Biden should step aside or if another candidate should be nominated intensifying. Biden’s perceived odds of winning the nomination dropped significantly on a betting site, reflecting a lack of confidence from both political insiders and the public. Some Democrats suggested that party elders like Senator Schumer and former Speaker Pelosi should intervene, but it was unclear if they would agree to do so. The lack of an obvious successor to Biden added to the uncertainty surrounding the situation.
Incumbent presidents often stumble in their first debate of a general election season, but can often recover in subsequent performances. However, with no other debate scheduled until September, Biden faces a significant challenge in trying to recover from his poor showing. Democrats recognized that the situation was existential, with Biden’s ability to defeat Trump called into question. Instead of resetting the campaign in Biden’s favor, the debate highlighted the need for his team to work to repair the damage and unite the party behind their candidate.
