Joe Biden’s disastrous performance in the first presidential debate has Democrats scrambling. Plus: the 82-year-old ‘Sword Granny’ of India
Good morning.
Joe Biden’s lackluster performance in the first presidential debate of the fight for the White House sent senior Democratic advisers and operatives into panic mode. Donald Trump repeatedly made false claims about January 6, the national debt and the economy while Biden mumbled and struggled to rebut Trump’s lies, which will only have reinforced a perception among many voters that he is too old for the job.
Some are raising questions over whether there could be a contested Democratic convention and how Biden might be replaced as the Democratic candidate for the election. The only option would be for Biden to agree to step aside and allow the delegates he won in the primaries to choose someone else – with some big names already being floated as possible options.
“Trump did not win the debate but Biden certainly lost it.” David Smith writes that Biden lived down to expectations that were at rock bottom and somehow made Trump sound almost coherent.
What were some of Trump’s lies? Moderators for CNN’s debate took a hands-off approach, letting lies and half-truths remain unchallenged. Trump spouted lies on abortion, the environment, the border, tax cuts and January 6.
Who won the meme wars? Both contenders delivered soundbites, with Trump declaring that during his presidency “everything was rockin’ good”, and Biden hitting back at Trump’s felony convictions, saying the former president “has the morals of an alleycat”.
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