Joe Biden failed to catch Donald Trump, his rival who is a recently convicted felon and was winging it with vagueness and evasion when asked questions with policy specifics at the US presidential debate. Even as some urged him to quit, associates of Biden said he would prepare for the second presidential debate on Sept 10th. He still has about ten weeks left before that day to turn things around in case he still remains there by then.
The evening’s catastrophe even shocked those who are ardent followers of Biden. “I love Joe Biden. I know he’s a good man… Tonight was heartbreaking in many ways… There’s panic in the Democratic party,” wrote Maria Shriver, former first lady of California and member of the Kennedy family on X. Claire McCaskill, a former Democratic Senator from Missouri did not mince her words: “One liar, flawed character, mean man, jerk, very unlikable person and one guy whose age America wants to believe is up for being President next year but isn’t.”
Veterans of other campaigns sought to calm down their supporters by saying that they should see the bigger picture. “It’s a choice between someone who cares about you – your rights, your prospects, your future – versus someone who’s only in it for himself,” added Hillary Clinton , ex-first lady , ex-senator , prez candidate. However, activists and donors are now pressuring Democrats because polls show that Biden’s age is working against him. In an email sent to some insiders Reed Hoffman (the co-founder of LinkedIn) said: “Our odds of Trumpocalypse II just materially increased.”
Biden seemed to acknowledge this criticism during a rally in North Carolina on Friday when he said: ”I don’t debate as well as I used to.” But added “I know how to do this job”. The following night Speaking for 18 minutes Biden appeared far more animated than his showing the night before and castigated Trump for his “lies.” “The choice in this election is simple,” he says. “Donald Trump will destroy our democracy. I will defend it.”
While Biden’s campaign announced it had raised $14 million on the day of the debate and following morning, Trump’s campaign claimed to have raised over $8 million from the beginning to the end of that night’s event.
