In a show of support for Biden similar to Obama’s, Clinton also put out a post on social media Saturday.
Biden’s performance in the 90-odd minute debate against former US president Trump laid out his vulnerabilities to the American voters and the world.
All of that seemed undone with his debate performance, however.
I know what I do know – I know how to tell the truth!
I know right from wrong and I know how to do this job,” Biden told a fired up audience.
“Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November,” he added.
“Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself,” said Obama in a post on X.
New Delhi: Former US presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have rallied around incumbent Joe Biden after his performance in the first presidential debate Thursday night against Republican challenger Donald Trump sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party.
Obama is no stranger to a bad debate. In 2012, the then US president seeking re-election was considered by pundits to have been trounced by his Republican challenger Mitt Romney in the first presidential debate between the two.
Obama looked unprepared, contemptuous and by the end of the debate had to call donors and supporters to calm the surging panic, according to media reports. The election in 2012 was at a knife’s edge, and Obama’s team scrambled to regain the edge against Romney. Obama eventually won, after two strong debate performances.
In a show of support for Biden similar to Obama’s, Clinton also put out a post on social media Saturday.
“I’ll leave the debate rating to the pundits, but here’s what I know: facts and history matter. Joe Biden has given us 3 years of solid leadership, steadying us after the pandemic, creating a record number of new jobs, making real progress solving the climate crisis, and launching a successful effort in reducing inflation, all while pulling us out of the quagmire Donald Trump left us in. That’s what’s really at stake in November,” said Clinton.
Biden’s performance in the 90-odd minute debate against former US president Trump laid out his vulnerabilities to the American voters and the world. A poll by Gallup leading up to the debate identified his age as his biggest electoral liability – with many Americans believing he is too old to lead at 81.
In February this year, special counsel in the US Department of Justice Robert K. Hur in a report termed Biden “an elderly man with a poor memory”. The perception of the incumbent president solidified around the comments made in the report.
However, Biden came out aggressive in the annual State of the Union speech this March, and had reportedly spent a week preparing for the debate against Trump to show that he has what it takes to continue to lead the US.
All of that seemed undone with his debate performance, however. Nevertheless, Biden, the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, cannot be easily replaced by an alternative candidate at this stage, unless he withdraws from the race himself.
His withdrawal seems unlikely, as hours after the debate, he went on to campaign at a rally at Raleigh, North Carolina. He came out aggressive, confident and took aim at Trump – a very different performance from the evening before at the debate.
“I know I am not a young man. To state the obvious. I do not walk as easy as I used to, I do not speak as smoothly as I used to, I do not debate as well as I used to. I know what I do know – I know how to tell the truth! I know right from wrong and I know how to do this job,” Biden told a fired up audience.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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