Before Thursday evening, many Americans were already concerned about Joe Biden’s age and fitness for office. To say that this debate did not alleviate those concerns would be a significant understatement.
The president entered the debate with a low bar to clear, and he stumbled. He appeared flat, rambling, and unclear.
Midway through the debate, the Biden campaign informed reporters that the president was battling a cold, attempting to explain his raspy voice. While this may be true, it also seemed like an excuse.
For 90 minutes, Joe Biden often seemed on the ropes. Particularly early in the evening, some of his answers were nonsensical. After losing his train of thought, he ended one response by saying, “We finally beat Medicare” – a peculiar reference to the government-run healthcare program for the elderly.