Who won the Debate?
Who won the debate last night, Biden or Trump? The immediate post-debate reactions often reveal the real outcome. Trump seemed to come out on top because he appeared sharp, controlled, and followed the debate rules, likely due to the microphone reminders. He effectively conveyed his message: that Biden is the worst president in history, the open border has doomed everyone, Biden is legally targeting him, and he will accept the election results if they are fair and clear.
Biden, as VP Kamala Harris noted on MSNBC, had a slow start but gained momentum as the debate progressed. Unfortunately, many Americans only watched the first few minutes, which didn't help Biden. There are even talks among Democrats about potentially replacing him with figures like Gov. Newsom, Kamala Harris, or Michelle Obama, indicating a sense of panic within the party.
The debate highlighted Biden's struggles with speech and physical presence, but this does not make him the worst president as Trump claimed. Biden’s long political career and presence on the debate stage at his age are noteworthy achievements. It might be wise for Biden to consider calling for an open convention to allow stronger Democrats to emerge. Despite his senior age and speech challenges, Biden painted a picture of a hopeful and fair America, in contrast to Trump's vision of isolation and exclusivity.
Biden has numerous legislative accomplishments, including the Infrastructure Bill and executive orders to secure the border. He faces significant policy challenges in Ukraine and Israel and needs to have a serious conversation with his core team about Gaza, aiming to be a humanitarian president for everyone, including Palestinians. Trump claimed that Palestinians are rioting, but given their dire conditions, they lack the energy to riot. How can you still riot when you’re hungry, you lost your loved ones and the only thing left standing and waiting to be bombed is the tent on your head?
Trump mentioned he didn't want to be on the debate stage, and Biden missed an opportunity to challenge him on why he was there if he didn't want to be president. Nonetheless, Biden presented a positive vision for America. While it may not have been the performance Democrats hoped for, he stood his ground and confronted Trump directly not only on who’s a better golf player, and who can carry the golf equipment the best, but more so on who’s the real loser. From time to time Biden gave that debate smile that made Paul Ryan seems like a college kid who’s just starting to pay off his apartment, that’s the Biden that you’ve seen on the past debates, the Biden that showed the spirit of America is still there, alive and burning. Despite the age, despite the seconds of gaps and words that struggles, Biden is still Biden.
And that’s all the assurances that America needs to know because it takes years to build trust. And Trust trumps everything.
