As the first presidential debate unfolded on Thursday, the specter of President Joe Biden's advancing age and questionable cognitive abilities loomed large, igniting a wave of anxiety among his supporters and prompting influential voices to raise the alarm for a potential ticket swap. Biden stumbled through the initial rounds, fumbling his words, trailing off mid-sentence, and missing crucial points in his answers and counterarguments. This stark contrast to the vociferous Trump, who relentlessly lambasted Biden's perceived shortcomings, was particularly jarring. Although Biden regained some footing in the latter half, the damage to his campaign was evident.
Post-debate, CNN swiftly reported that Biden's disjointed performance had triggered alarm bells among top Democratic leaders, who were now grappling with a pressing concern: "Sources: Dems saying 'we have a problem' after Biden's performance tonight." The sentiment resonated across X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, with questions swirling about whether Biden should continue his campaign, and names of potential Democratic replacements being floated. California Governor Gavin Newsom emerged as one such candidate.
After the debate, Newsom addressed the Biden panic in an interview with MSNBC, stating, "I believe this panic is unwarranted and unnecessary. We must stand united, keep our heads held high, and give our president our unwavering support." However, despite the governor's reassuring words, the online frenzy surrounding Biden's performance was palpable. Here are a few tweets from dismayed Democrats and media personalities, shocked by Biden's Thursday night showing.
Steve Schmidt, the renowned American political and corporate strategist, tweeted, "Biden's presidency will be fleeting. He still has the opportunity to witness a Democratic inauguration. With 68 days left before the DNC, a Whitmer/Moore ticket stands a strong chance against Trump."
Kasie Hunt, the esteemed CNN anchor, penned her observation with poignancy: "The stark contrast in voice, the gaping mouths, and the stark visual divergence between President Biden and former President Trump left the Democrats I spoke with absolutely on the edge of their seats, watching this pivotal debate unfold."
Meghan McCain, a renowned political commentator and a former conservative voice on The View, confessed, "This debate was the most nerve-wracking I've ever witnessed, and even my father, a nominee against Obama, never elicited such an emotional response from me. #DebateNight indeed."
Jacob Weisberg, a political journalist, offered a candid assessment: "Biden, a man of integrity, is undeniably at the twilight of his political career. For the sake of our nation, he must withdraw from this race. Ideally, the very next day."
Nicholas Kristof echoed this sentiment, writing, "I fervently hope that Biden takes stock of his performance in this debate and announced retreatthe race, leaving the choice of the Democratic nominee to the convention. There are still formidable contenders like Gretchen Whitmer, Sherrod Brown, or Raimondo who could rise to the occasion and defeat Trump."
The palpable tension surrounding Biden's subpar performance hung heavily in the air at the Aspen Ideas Festival, a gathering that boasts of "the most inspired and thought-provoking minds under one roof."
Sarah Longwell, the head of Republicans Against Trump, spoke at the festival, her words echoing through the cheers and boos: "My desire for Trump's defeat is unparalleled, yet tonight was an absolute disaster. This was a critical evening for Biden, yet he failed to show up. You can't ignore what the people saw — a man who is far too advanced in age to be our president. He faced a maniac, a liar, and a man clearly unfit for office. But Trump will prevail unless we take drastic measures. We cannot pretend that we didn't witness what transpired tonight."
Celinda Lake, a renowned pollster, took a contrasting approach, urging people not to lose faith and to keep the fight alive against Trump. "This is a winnable battle," she declared. "The polls are tight, and most people don't even bother to watch the debates."
Eddie Gauge, a respected pundit, confessed that tonight's events have left him more concerned about the fate of democracy than ever before in his lifetime.
