President Biden’s performance in the first presidential debate has left many of his supporters disheartened. Concerns over his faltering responses and muddled answers have sparked frustration within the Democratic Party, leading to criticism of Biden’s campaign and the debate hosts.
Social media reactions
Social media platforms were ablaze with worried comments from Biden’s backers. Some demanded the Democratic Party consider replacing him on the ballot. Others urged CNN, the debate host, to challenge former President Donald Trump more vigorously to aid Biden.
“He’s clueless,” a Reddit user remarked, while another stated, “Look, I’m voting for Biden 100%, but he is 100% not all there.”
One frustrated supporter lamented, “Biden is too old! We needed Pete! You fools!”—a nod to Pete Buttigieg, Biden’s transportation secretary and former 2020 primary contender.
Calls for reassessment
David Axelrod, a strategist from the Obama White House, suggested on CNN that Biden’s continuation should be reconsidered. Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks, labeled the situation as “elder abuse” and criticized the Democratic establishment for sticking with Biden, predicting a guaranteed loss if he remains the candidate. Uygur proposed looking to Senator Bernie Sanders as an alternative.
Republican reactions
At the debate site, Republicans were quick to dominate the “spin room” where reporters gather post-debate, while Democrats were noticeably slow. David Bossie, a veteran GOP operative, noted, “They are in a panic. I was even shocked by how poorly he did.”
Biden campaign’s response
The Biden campaign’s post-debate statement did not address the criticisms directly. Instead, it highlighted the president’s positive vision for America’s future, contrasting it with Trump’s “dark and backwards” outlook.
“Trump’s performance tonight reminded the American people why they fired him four years ago,” the statement read, “and reinforced just how high the stakes are this November for the future of our country.”
While some Biden supporters criticized his performance, others believed it wasn’t entirely disastrous aside from the occasional mumbles and incoherent answers. They suggested his performance might fare better in short online video clips.