Democrats in the US are alarmed following a tumultuous Presidential debate on Thursday night, where their expected nominee, Joe Biden, experienced several notable lapses, including a memorable brain freeze captured in a gif that is likely to persistently resurface.
Some Democrats are proposing that the current President consider stepping down, given what they view as a shaky performance.
They argue the party convention should instead nominate a younger candidate to challenge Donald Trump, 78, who, despite delivering a superficial debate performance, projected confidence alongside his usual bravado.
In contrast, Biden, aged 81, appeared fragile and weak. Speaking with a thin, raspy voice, purportedly due to a recent cold, he frequently appeared unclear and disjointed, his words trailing off into murmurs.
He struggled to confront a rival who is a newly convicted criminal, relying on vague generalities and evasion when pressed on policy specifics.
Donald Trump and Joe Biden faced off against each other, amongst other issues:
*American Health system
*Border control
*Russia vs Ukraine
*Israel and PalestineLooking at Biden, I honestly cannot believe this is a President of America. #PresidentialDebate2024 pic.twitter.com/VUK8jzENAu
— m a s h è s h a 💨 (@_mashesha) June 28, 2024
Despite pressure from certain groups for him to withdraw from the race, Biden’s associates affirmed that he intends to prepare for the second presidential debate scheduled for September 10. He will have almost ten weeks to improve his performance, provided he isn’t forced out before then.
Even staunch supporters of Biden were taken aback by the evening’s disaster. “I admire Joe Biden. I believe he’s a decent man with a good heart, dedicated to our country and surrounded by capable individuals.
Tonight was deeply disappointing on multiple levels. This marks a significant political moment. The Democratic party is in a state of alarm. It promises to be a challenging night,” Maria Shriver, former first lady of California and member of the Kennedy family, expressed on the social media platform X.
Former Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill was more direct, stating that while the debate highlighted Trump’s traits as “a liar, a flawed character, mean, a jerk, very unlikable,” Biden “had one simple task: to convince America that he was capable of handling the job at his age, and he fell short of that tonight.”
“I’m not the only one whose heart is breaking right now. There’s a lot of people who watched this tonight and felt terribly for Joe Biden,” she added.
Seasoned party veterans attempted to calm the anxiety, urging voters to consider the broader perspective. “This election boils down to a choice between someone who champions your rights, your opportunities, and your future, versus someone motivated solely by self-interest,” remarked former First Lady, Senator, and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
As polls indicate that Biden’s age is becoming a liability, there’s mounting pressure within the Democratic establishment from activists and donors to take swift action.
Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and a Democratic donor, conveyed in an email to party insiders: “Joe had a disastrous night, reinforcing concerns about his age, which is his most significant electoral vulnerability.
The likelihood of ‘Trumpocalypse II’ has now noticeably increased. It’s a lamentable situation, especially considering we could have focused on letting Trump’s recent felony conviction resonate with the nation.”
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