Analysis: Joe Biden ‘signed his own death warrant’

The first US presidential debate was a disaster for Joe Biden. It was so bad that, for the first time, his allies finally began to speak publicly about their panic, says Tom Minear.

US President Joe Biden wanted to debate Donald Trump in June – far earlier than in previous election campaigns – because he knew he needed to turn around his flailing re-election effort.

In the end, by holding the contest before he had even been formally chosen as his party’s candidate for November’s election, Biden may have signed his own political death warrant.

The debate was a disaster for the President. It was so bad that, for the first time, his allies finally began to speak publicly about their panic.

With less than two months until the Democrats confirm their nominee, his performance means they are seriously considering whether they can jettison the 81-year-old for someone else to take on Trump.

The debate was a disaster for Joe Biden, says Tom Minear. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Biden did however score some points against his rival, Donald Trump. Picture: AFP

Sure, Biden scored some points against his opponent. But any Democrat could hit a candidate who incited an insurrection and became a convicted felon.

Biden’s problem was not so much about what he said – although he did fumble crucial attack lines on abortion, democracy and social security. It was about how he said it.

He looked lost and confused. He struggled to keep up. He rarely took notes.

Biden’s team had essentially forced Trump to agree to their preferred rules for the debate, including no live audience and microphones being muted when the candidates were not supposed to speak.

But even this worked against the President – unlike Trump, his retorts were often not broadcast, and he seemed to lack energy without a crowd.

More than once, Biden’s best lines were cut off because he ran out of time. More than once, on questions that should have been a free hit, Biden did not use up all of his allocated time.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump during the televised debate. Picture: AFP

Tellingly, before the debate had even ended, his staffers were briefing to CNN – the host broadcaster of the debate – that he had been “battling a cold in recent days”.

Let’s be honest: Trump’s victory in this debate was handed to him by Biden.

The former president refused to confirm that he would accept the results of the election. He dodged important questions about climate change, childcare and drug addiction issues.

He lied about his record from his first term and he barely spoke about his plan for his second term.

But standing next to Biden, the 78-year-old Trump was punchy, sharp and in control. That’s what tens of millions of Americans watching the debate would have seen.

As the candidates bickered over which of them was the worst president in history – and who had the lower golf handicap – it was no surprise that Democrats were finally beginning to wonder whether they needed to give voters a better option.