During his first debate against Trump, President Biden frequently had a weak, raspy voice, despite Democrats’ hopes that it would be a turning point in the race.
President Joe Biden was supposed to reassure the nation about his physical and mental fitness during Thursday night’s debate. However, from the very beginning, the 81-year-old struggled to even speak, often resorting to a weak, raspy voice. In the opening minutes, Biden repeatedly tripped over his words, misspoke, and lost his train of thought.
One of the most telling moments was when Biden ended a rambling and unfocused statement by saying, “We finally beat Medicare,” before moderators cut him off and transitioned back to Trump.
Though Biden gained some rhythm as the debate progressed, he couldn’t land a solid hit on Trump. Trump, unleashing a torrent of hard-hitting truths, didn’t hesitate to pounce on Biden. At one point, after Biden’s confusing statement about the border, Trump quipped, “I don’t know if he knows what he said either.”
Nearly an hour into the debate, a Biden aide and others familiar with his situation claimed the president’s hoarseness was due to a cold. The Biden campaign had hoped the debate would be a turning point, but instead, it revealed Biden’s weaknesses. Most polls show a neck-and-neck race, even after Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts.
Biden’s age and frailty have been a drag on his polling numbers for months. Misleadingly edited videos exacerbating these concerns have gone viral, painting Biden as wandering or confused. This debate was his chance to dispel those narratives. Instead, it became a moment of panic for many Democrats.
“Democrats just committed collective suicide,” said one party strategist. “Biden sounds hoarse, looks tired, and is babbling. He is reaffirming everything voters already perceived. President Biden can’t win. This debate is a nail in the political coffin.” Another Democratic consultant added, “It’s hard to argue that we shouldn’t nominate someone else.”
Biden did have some moments, such as when he said, “Only one of us is a convicted felon, and I’m looking at him,” which tested well in internal Biden campaign polling. A Biden aide admitted the start was “not ideal” but claimed there was “no mass panic” at campaign headquarters.
Meanwhile, Trump has faced his own questions about age and focus, with some suggesting he’s unstable post-2020 election loss. Yet, Biden’s preparations to bait Trump into revealing “the true Trump” fell flat.
The muting of the microphones added a new dynamic, reminiscent of the 2020 debate where Trump’s interruptions led to Biden’s frustration, famously saying, “Will you shut up, man?”
Ben Proto, chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party, speculated, “I’m thinking the Democrats are considering who their Barry Goldwater is who can tell the president he needs to step aside,” recalling how Goldwater persuaded Nixon to resign during Watergate.
