In the wake of President Joe Biden’s lackluster performance in the recent debate against former President Donald Trump, former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton stepped in to try and do some damage control. Obama took to social media to reassure the public that “bad debate nights happen,” while emphasizing that the upcoming election is a choice between someone who has consistently fought for ordinary people versus someone who only cares about himself.
Following Obama’s lead, Bill Clinton echoed a similar sentiment in his own post, stating that “facts and history matter” and highlighting some of Biden’s accomplishments. These responses from both Obama and Clinton mark a clear shift in strategy for Democrats as they attempt to pivot and regain control after Biden’s lackluster debate performance.
Throughout the debate, Biden noticeably stumbled, often pausing mid-sentence to gather his thoughts and struggling with his words. These blunders extended to topics that he typically excels in, such as abortion and the economy. The messaging from Obama and Clinton seems to acknowledge the severity of Biden’s missteps while attempting to downplay their impact on the overall election narrative.
While some Democrats initially tried to play down Biden’s blunders and focus on attacking Trump’s performance, the responses from Obama and Clinton suggest a new approach. They seem to be acknowledging the debate disaster while urging the public to look beyond it. However, debates can have a significant impact on voter perception, as evidenced by the aftermath of the September 2020 debate where voters overwhelmingly felt that Biden outperformed Trump.
In the days following the debate, there has been growing concern within the Democratic Party about how Biden’s performance might affect voter perceptions. With the presidential race being incredibly tight and likely to be decided by narrow margins, any misstep could have serious consequences. Some Democratic strategists, donors, and pundits have even gone as far as suggesting that Biden should drop out of the race in favor of a potentially stronger candidate.
Despite the mounting pressure, Biden has remained steadfast and rejected calls to drop out of the race. Instead, he has taken a more candid approach, admitting his shortcomings while emphasizing his commitment to honesty and truth. As the countdown to the next debate begins, all eyes will be on how Biden and Trump perform and how their actions will shape the narrative leading up to the November election.
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