Democrats are in full panic mode after President Joe Biden's quiet, halting and, at times, incoherent debate performance on Thursday night. The showing was so jarring that reporters corresponding with Democratic Party insiders revealed questions were privately being raised about whether Biden should remain the party's nominee.
A Troubling Performance
“Biden looks and sounds terrible. He's incoherent,” said one who has spent time working in the administration.
“We are f**ked,” a veteran campaign operative quipped, according to CNN's Kasie Hunt.
Another insider didn't mince words: “It's hard to argue that Biden should be our nominee.”
The Most Disturbing Moment
However, the most disturbing moment of the night came immediately after the debate a when lone camera zoomed in on Jill Biden leading the president off the debate stage.
The stunning visual underscored the growing concerns about Biden's ability to handle the rigors of the campaign trail, among other things.
Historic Debate, Historic Concerns
Thursday's debate was historic for many reasons, not least because it took place months before either man will be formally nominated at their party conventions. The Democratic National Convention is set to convene on August 19 in Chicago.
Campaign Response
Despite the chaos, a defiant Biden campaign official told The Hill on Friday morning that the president is “not dropping out,” even as it seems millions of Democrats wish he would.
“Of course he's not dropping out,” Biden campaign spokesperson Seth Schuster said in a text message.
Biden's performance in Thursday night's debate with Trump was largely panned by Democrats, some of whom have acknowledged it will stoke conversations about whether the president should be replaced atop the Democratic ticket before August's convention.
The president's voice was often raspy, which the White House later attributed to a cold, and he at times lost his train of thought or struggled to make his point clearly.
“The chatter is very distracting, and it's going to be very consuming for the campaign,” former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki said on MSNBC. “Should he be replaced? They're going to be answering that question instead of breaking through on attacking Trump.”
With the convention still months away, the Democratic Party faces a critical decision: rally behind Biden or consider a last-minute change in leadership. One thing is clear: the debate performance has left many questioning the path forward.
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