President Joe Biden's performance in the first presidential debate against former President Donald Trump on Thursday, June 29, 2024, left many Democrats and political analysts concerned about his ability to carry out his duties through another four-year term. The debate saw Biden delivering meandering answers in a hoarse voice and looking lost or slack-jawed at times. Some Biden aides expressed concerns about his fitness for office following the debate, while others tried to downplay the significance of the event.
Despite these concerns, Biden showed resilience during a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday. He acknowledged his poor performance and assured supporters that he knew how to tell the truth and get things done. The rally provided a more comfortable setting for Biden with a cheering crowd and the use of a Teleprompter.
Biden's track record of turning failures into demonstrated resilience could be utilized to recover from the debate performance. Many Democrats continue to support him, but some view his poor showing as political malpractice. To address these concerns, Biden could tackle the issue head-on by demonstrating his fitness to govern through direct engagement with media, key opinion leaders, and independent audiences.
Key Democratic Party heavyweights such as former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have issued statements of support for Biden following the debate performance. Other prominent Democrats like Governor Gavin Newsom of California, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi have also expressed their confidence in Biden's ability to lead.
Biden's miscues and limitations are more familiar to those inside the White House. He is typically more engaged during daytime hours and can become fatigued or have verbal miscues when traveling abroad or outside of regular work hours. The debate, which began at 9pm ET, may have contributed to Biden's poor performance.
The public split screen between the veteran president rallying voters and an 81-year-old man struggling to string thoughts together in a debate has raised concerns about Biden's fitness for office. However, his track record of resilience and the support of key Democratic Party heavyweights could help him recover from this setback.