Time cover with Biden and the caption “Panic”: an analysis of historical debates in the United States

Time cover with Biden and the caption “Panic”: analysis of historical debates in the United States Anastasia Kolesnikova

Democrats panicked after the first election debate between Biden and Trump/Collage 24 Channel

At night, Kyiv time, June 28, the first election debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump took place in the United States. They caused a great wave of discussions in the West. First of all, they concerned the obvious “fiasco” of the current owner of the White House.

The debate lasted about 90 minutes and, according to even his closest associates, Biden, a real disaster for him. This is stated in the analysis of Time, which on the X network responded to the speeches of presidential candidates by publishing an eloquent cover of its next issue. In it, Joe Biden “walks out” of the frame, leaving the word “panic” on a bright red background.

Biden suddenly turned into a “naked king”

Thus, journalists note that Biden looked like an 81-year-old grandfather, which he actually is. He made incomprehensible arguments in a thin and quiet voice, often staring into space and stumbling. Meanwhile, his opponent rushed from one verbal attack to another.

Biden's performance at the debate caused a strong panic in the ranks of the Democratic Party. All of them – from progressive to pragmatic – recognized the obvious failure of their candidate. Almost immediately after the debate ended, Democrats began to wonder whether Biden could be convinced to refuse to participate for the good of the party, the nation, and himself.

Meanwhile, Biden's team tried to dispel the party's dreams that he would agree to withdraw his candidacy. Joe's supporters insisted that he was one hundred percent ready for another four years as president. As evidence, Biden's team did not change its plans after the debate failure and, as expected, sent the US leader to a party at the Hyatt Regency on Peachtree Street in Atlanta for 45 minutes of selfies. The next day, former President Barack Obama urged Democrats not to put pressure on Biden, saying that bad debates do happen.

However, the reality remained the same, they write in Time

Everyone in America who tuned in to the debate could see firsthand how Biden has aged. Already embroiled in what is at best a straight fight with Trump, Biden's path to victory suddenly came to a standstill before Democrats' eyes. So the party asked two questions. Is there a way to remove Biden's candidacy? And if not, is there a chance of reaching the finish line with a candidate who has shortcomings, says the publication’s analysis.

Americans are worried about Biden's advanced age

No one can say that what happened at the Atlanta debate , was unexpected. Voters consistently told pollsters that they were concerned about the age of both candidates. Nearly two-thirds of the nation believes both Trump and Biden are too old for the job, according to an Ipsos poll. Another quarter think Biden is too old. A separate Gallup poll found that only 22 percent of Americans say they are happy with the direction the country is heading, a figure that puts Biden at risk.

Around this time in In 2020, Trump had 20 percent of support, and then he lost the election to Biden.

In 2012, Barack Obama also had 20 percent of support, but managed to be re-elected to a second term.

Senior Democrats warned their party members that Biden was not the best version of himself. Obama insiders such as David Axelrod and David Plouffe warned donors that Biden was a risky bet and the party needed new blood.

Revolutionary sentiment is now raging among Democrats. However, Democratic Party rules make it almost impossible to replace Biden with another candidate unless he withdraws his candidacy.

Who could replace Biden

If Biden can be persuaded to resign, there will be chaos within the party not seen since 1968.

Vice President Kamala Harris was unlikely to become the new Democratic nominee. She has too little support. High-profile contenders nominally vying to run in 2028 include Michigan Governors Gretchen Whitmer, California Governors Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governors JB Pritzker.

After debate Biden said he understands the panic in the party.

“I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious. I don't debate as well as I used to. I know what I know: I know how to tell the truth. I know how to do this job. I know what millions of Americans know: when you get shot down, you come back.” – said the head of the United States,

He also promised that he would not run again if he “didn’t believe with all his heart and soul” that he could do the job.

For many Democrats who watched the debate, the problem is that what Biden believes is increasingly beginning to contradict reality.