The aftermath of Thursday night’s presidential debate left the Democratic Party surrounded by chaos and doubt, fuelled by Joe Biden’s unimpressive performance. The president, reeling from the critique of his faceoff against Donald Trump, retreated to Camp David with his family for the weekend. He acknowledged the public’s increasing concern with a pledge to enhance his fight during an engagement with backers in Red Bank, New Jersey. “I grasp the worry. My debate performance wasn’t impressive. However, I’ll put more effort,” he affirmed.
Despite the growing concern over Biden’s age and the arguments that his declining cognitive abilities mean he might not be the political power he was four years ago, senior Democrats stepped in to shield their candidate. They also tried to shift the resulting focus on these attributes.
In a survey by CBS on whether either candidate had the requisite “mental and cognitive prowess to serve as the president”, 50% disagreed that Trump did, while a staggering 72% believed Biden did not. Nancy Pelosi, a seasoned Democrat, was prompted to ask what people thought about Trump during a CNN interview on Sunday morning.
She went on to question his suitability based on his debate performance, reminding that evaluating a presidency on the basis of a single debate was misguided. Pelosi drew attention to the stark differences between Biden and his predecessor, affecting the public in their daily lives, especially women concerned with reproductive rights.
She proceeded to outline Biden’s achievements over his term of four years, something Biden failed to do during the Atlanta debate. Amid increasing speculation about a change in nomination, Biden’s campaign team dismissed the idea of him stepping down.
Rob Flaherty, his Deputy Campaign Manager, ended the weekend by stating vociferously: “Joe Biden, without question, is going to be the Democratic nominee. He commanded an overwhelming victory when the electorate cast their votes.”
Should he choose to withdraw, there would likely be a tumultuous period involving intense infighting among potential substitutes, who would then proceed into a gruelling convention stand-off. Simultaneously, Donald Trump would possess unopposed time to communicate with the American populace, he explained.
However, there is a significant demand for Mr Biden to consciously step down from his role. Several eminent political pundits, which include Biden’s associate and seasoned columnist for The New York Times, Tom Friedman, have publicly urged him to make room for a younger party peer.
The refusal of Biden to step aside won’t merely threaten his legacy but also jeopardises the election, along with the policies and principles he has declared as core to his Presidency and essential for the future, as per a commentary by New Yorker editor, David Remnick.
Over the recent weekend, Democratic opinion polls aimed to grasp if the international pessimistic reaction aligns with the perceptions of their base of grassroots supporters. Coincidentally, there’s a general unease among Democrats that the focus on scrutinising Biden’s ability to perform has virtually overshadowed the lack of critique on the 30-plus unverified claims that Trump made during a debate he evidently dominated.
Vermont representative Becca Balint expressed her alarm at the situation. “The fact that a person can fabricate the truth continuously for 90 minutes, evidencing a total lack of ethical direction, is what terrifies me. That’s all I want to express,” she voiced.
Moreover, a judgement regarding the immunity plea submitted by Donald Trump’s legal team is anticipated to be announced by the Supreme Court on Monday.