President Joe Biden’s lackluster performance in Thursday night’s televised debate with former President Donald Trump has reportedly thrown the Democratic Party into disarray, with a growing number of media outlets and political insiders calling on the aging executive to bow out of the presidential race.
The push to replace Biden on the Democratic ticket began moments after the debate ended, with CNN’s post-debate panel providing commentary that almost seemed an impromptu wake for the Biden campaign.
According to CNN national correspondent John King, the opening minutes of the debate likely caused “very aggressive panic in the Democratic Party.”
Fellow panelist Kasie Hunt described conversations with Democrats who are “nearly beside themselves” after observing Biden’s hoarse voice and “open-mouthed look.”
The voice, open-mouthed look, and visual contrast between President Biden and former President Trump all have Democrats I'm talking to nearly beside themselves watching this debate
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 28, 2024
Commentator Van Jones said the party needs to find “another way forward.”
“That was personally painful for a lot of people,” Jones said. “It’s not just panic, it’s pain.”
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Skepticism in the viability of a second Biden term quickly spread to other networks as well, with headlines on even the most Democrat-friendly outlets expressing concern:
- ABC News: “Biden’s biggest weakness—his age—on full display at debate”
- The Atlantic: “Time to Go, Joe”
- Axios: “Biden’s debate is a “DEFCON 1” moment for Democrats”
- Bloomberg: “Biden’s Disastrous Debate Accelerates Doubts Over Candidacy”
- CNN: “Biden’s disastrous debate pitches his reelection bid into crisis”, “Biden’s debate performance sets off alarm bells for Democrats”
- Drudge Report: “OPERATION: REPLACE BIDEN – Dems Scramble With 130 Days to Go!”
- The Hill: “Biden debate performance is ‘nightmare’ for Democrats”, “Dems in full panic mode after Biden’s stumbling performance”
- New York Post: “Biden’s candidacy in doubt after weak, frozen debate performance against Trump leaves Dems in ‘aggressive panic’”
- Politico: “The movement to convince Biden to not run is real”, “‘WTF’: Panicked Dems start looking for alternatives to Biden”
- Reuters: “Democrats scramble to limit damage after Biden’s wobbly debate showing against Trump”
- Wall Street Journal: “Democrats Privately Discuss Replacing Biden on Presidential Ticket”
A dozen New York Times op-ed writers shared their takes on the debate under the headline “God Help Us.” Their individual pieces on the subject featured titles like “Joe Biden Is a Good Man and a Good President. He Must Bow Out of the Race,” “Biden Cannot Go on Like This,” and “After the Debate: ‘I Don’t Think Joe Biden Should Be Running.’”
MSNBC anchor Joy Ann Reid reportedly spoke with former members of the Obama administration, many of whom were “expressing panic” about the debate.
MSNBC anchor Joy Ann Reid says she was on the phone with Obama operatives throughout the debate, who were "somewhere expressing panic … very concerned."
— Valuetainment Media (@ValuetainmentTV) June 28, 2024
On Friday morning, MSNBC host Joe Scarborough said that, despite his love for Biden and his belief that the president “has been an unqualified success” in office, he simply cannot campaign effectively anymore.
"In 2024, failure is not an option… We know Joe Biden can govern — But can he run for president in 2024?"
— @JoeNBC reacts to Biden's debate performance Thursday night https://t.co/bCcWKISFZy pic.twitter.com/BS27Du1TFp
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) June 28, 2024
Even among Democrats outside the media space, Biden’s performance was widely panned.
Maria Shriver, a member of the Kennedy family, wrote on X:
“I love Joe Biden. I know he’s a good man. I know his heart is good. I know he’s dedicated to our country and is surrounded by good people. Tonight was heartbreaking in many ways. This is a big political moment. There’s panic in the Democratic party. It’s going to be a long night.”
I love Joe Biden. I know he’s a good man. I know his heart is good. I know he’s dedicated to our country and is surrounded by good people. Tonight was heartbreaking in many ways. This is a big political moment. There’s panic in the Democratic party. It’s going to be a long night.
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) June 28, 2024
Businessman Andrew Yang, who ran against Biden in the 2020 Democratic primary, pointed out that he “debated Joe 7 times in 2020. He’s a different guy in 2024.”
Look I debated Joe 7 times in 2020. He’s a different guy in 2024. #swapJoeout
— Andrew Yang🧢⬆️🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) June 28, 2024
Per Huffington Post journalist Yashar Ali: “I am in multiple large group texts with Democratic operatives, elected officials, staffers, and donors. Not one of them feels good about Biden’s performance tonight in terms of style, his voice etc. And these are people who aggressively defend him.”
I am in multiple large group texts with Democratic operatives, elected officials, staffers, and donors.
Not one of them feels good about Biden’s performance tonight in terms of style, his voice etc.
And these are people who aggressively defend him.
And I know this is…
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) June 28, 2024
Biden and his campaign have reacted to the negative response with relative nonchalance, with campaign surrogates insisting that Biden has no plans of exiting the race. Instead, they say, he is already preparing for the next debate with Donald Trump in mid-September.
BREAKING
Biden campaign says Joe will not drop out of 2024 race.
He is committed to losing the second debate to Trump in September.pic.twitter.com/NZOghkxT4K
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 28, 2024
Even if the Democratic Party were to replace Biden as their nominee, the process would be far more complicated than simply naming a new candidate. All of the delegates Biden won during state primaries are required to cast their votes for him unless he agrees to drop out beforehand—and despite his poor showing at the debate, all signs indicate that Biden is not likely to do so.
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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