Joe Biden's performance in the recent presidential debate has created a wave of concern within the Democratic camp and among bettors. His confused and sometimes unintelligible demeanor has sparked calls for his withdrawal from the race. American media reports indicate that many editorialists are urging Biden to step down, fearing he is incapable of facing Donald Trump, who was deemed pugnacious during the debate.
Betting platforms have seen a significant shift in odds following the debate. Before the debate, Smarkets gave Biden around a 35% chance of winning in November, but this probability fell below 20% on Friday. The Smarkets platform also noted an increase in bets on Trump winning the election and on the possibility that Biden would not be the Democratic nominee.
Biden's campaign has been working hard to dispel the panic. Despite acknowledging his poor debate performance during a speech in North Carolina, Biden emphasized his experience and commitment to truth and integrity. However, the debate has exposed the potential political costs of nominating the nation's oldest president for a second term.
Democratic congressional leaders are not planning a direct intervention with Biden. Instead, they plan to focus on House and Senate races while assessing Biden's campaign strength in the coming weeks. Calls for Biden to drop out of the race have increased, but Democratic operatives and elected officials seem resigned to the reality that such a move is unlikely.
Biden's inner circle remains supportive, although there was no consensus on his decision to run for a second term. Frustration among Biden's supporters has grown, particularly regarding his advisers' handling of the debate preparation. Many feel that the inner circle failed to adequately prepare Biden or communicate his health struggles preemptively.
Some Democrats are calling for an open convention to nominate a new candidate, but the options for change are limited. If Biden does not voluntarily step down, a revolt among the delegates to the Democratic National Convention would be necessary. This scenario seems unlikely, given the delegates' commitment to nominating Biden.
Throughout the debate, Biden criticized Trump's actions on abortion rights and his handling of veterans' issues. Trump, in turn, accused Biden of failing on multiple fronts, including foreign policy and immigration. Both candidates attempted to address concerns about their age, with Biden emphasizing his experience and Trump boasting about his health and cognitive abilities.
- Biden's campaign has been proactive in reaching out to Democratic members of Congress, donors, and key supporters to quell fears and maintain support. Biden's team is focusing on highlighting the positive moments from the debate and moving forward with their campaign strategy.
- Despite the debate performance, Biden's campaign remains committed to participating in the next presidential debate in September. They plan to focus on refuting Trump's extreme positions and lies, a task Biden struggled with during the first debate.
- Several Democratic leaders, including House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have publicly supported Biden. They emphasize Biden's integrity and experience, despite acknowledging his poor debate performance.
- The debate has intensified discussions about Biden's age and ability to govern. Both Biden and Trump attempted to address these concerns, with Biden focusing on his experience and commitment to truth, while Trump highlighted his health and cognitive abilities.
