In the aftermath of President Joe Biden’s lackluster debate performance, top Democrats are deflecting blame from the president, pointing instead to a range of other factors. From over-preparation to inadequate fact-checking by CNN moderators, the blame game within the party has intensified.
Shifting Blame from Biden
Top Democratic figures acknowledge that Biden’s debate performance was subpar but argue that the president isn’t solely at fault. Representative Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) suggested Biden suffered from “preparation overload.” Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Clyburn stated, “I’ve been around these things. I’ve been a part of debate preparation before, and I know when I see what I call preparation overload. And that’s exactly what was going on the other night.”
The Biden campaign initially attributed his weak showing to a cold, explaining his hoarse voice and sluggish start. However, over subsequent days, other reasons were cited, including the moderators’ failure to fact-check Donald Trump and the president’s senior advisers’ mishandling of debate preparation.
Blame on Biden’s Advisers
Prominent Democrats have pointed fingers at key members of Biden’s team, including Anita Dunn, Ron Klain, and Jen O’Malley Dillon. Democratic commentator and former South Carolina lawmaker Bakari Sellers told CNN, “They need to do the reflection this morning, because what they did in preparation and lead-up to that night was a disservice to the president.”
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized the debate’s format and lack of real-time fact-checking. Speaking on MSNBC, she emphasized the difficulty of debating Trump, who, according to CNN, lied more than two dozen times during the debate. “How can you have a legitimate debate when somebody is totally lying — you have to completely dispel their falsehoods,” Pelosi said.
Addressing Donor Concerns
Biden’s poor performance has sparked concerns among donors and strategists about his ability to compete against Trump. A CBS News poll indicated that 72 percent of registered voters doubt Biden’s mental and cognitive health to serve as president. Among registered Democrats, 41 percent now question Biden’s mental rigor, up from 29 percent in early June.
Biden’s Response and Family Support
In response to the criticism, Biden held a rally in North Carolina and attended a high-profile fundraiser in New Jersey. He acknowledged his weak debate performance but reassured supporters of his commitment and capability. “I understand the concern after the debate … I get it. I didn’t have a great night, but I’m going to be fighting harder,” Biden told donors.
Biden is spending the weekend at Camp David with his family, where they are expected to discuss the campaign’s future. First Lady Jill Biden and other family members have publicly and privately expressed their support, urging him to continue his campaign.
Republican Reactions
Republicans have seized on Biden’s debate performance to argue for Trump’s re-election. Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), a potential vice-presidential pick for Trump, criticized Biden’s ability to represent the U.S. on the world stage. “I’m not worried about their debate performances,” Vance said. “I’m worried about what do these guys look like in the world stage? What did they look like in private meetings with world leaders? And clearly Donald Trump shows he could represent our country well in that form and Joe Biden showed that he couldn’t.”
Conclusion
The fallout from Biden’s debate performance has led to significant introspection within the Democratic Party. While the president’s advisers bear much of the blame, Biden himself has vowed to continue his campaign with renewed vigor.
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