President Biden is undeterred by his recent performance in the debate. He remains committed to participating in a second debate against Donald Trump in September, according to CNN senior White House correspondent Kayla Tausche.
Biden, 81, plans to continue his campaign despite calls from some within his party to step aside.
During the Thursday night debate, Biden’s performance raised concerns about his mental and physical fitness.
He frequently froze and misspoke, with his aides attributing his soft, scratchy voice to a cold. The debate left many viewers and political analysts questioning his capability to lead.
“This was a disaster for Biden. Many Democrats are looking for a new candidate after this debate,” said Doug Muzzio, a retired public affairs professor at Baruch College.
Muzzio described Biden as “tentative, rambling, and sometimes incoherent,” contrasting him with Trump, who he said appeared “clear and relatively coherent” despite frequently lying.
A notable moment in the debate occurred when Biden seemed to lose his train of thought for nine seconds before saying he “finally beat Medicare.”
Trump quickly seized the opportunity to criticize Biden, claiming that his policies were destroying Medicare.
Despite the criticism, Biden’s campaign insists he is not considering dropping out of the race.
However, a well-placed Democrat indicated that Biden’s nomination is still uncertain, saying it is “TBD” whether he will remain the party’s nominee.
Following the debate, First Lady Jill Biden assisted her husband off the stage and later praised his performance at an Atlanta watch party, attempting to boost his morale.
However, a CNN poll by SSRS revealed that over half of debate watchers lack confidence in Biden’s ability to lead, with 67% saying Trump performed better. Only 33% of respondents believe Biden will be the clear winner in the upcoming election.
