Trump vs Biden leader debate 2024: How their performances may affect their election campaign

From the moment Joe Biden opened his mouth, cheers and jeers from those watching quickly turned to groans and silence, writes Annelise Nielson.

Annelise Nielsen, Washington Correspondent, Sky News. Supplied

In a country so deeply divided on so many things, it seems this Presidential debate has achieved the impossible. Because now everyone can agree on at least one thing: Joe Biden is not OK.

At a watch party organised by local Republican officials, atop a gun range in suburban Atlanta, we knew we were watching the CNN Presidential Debate among die hard Trump supporters. But the mood in the room fell flat as soon as Biden’s raspy voice came on.

There were some jeers and cheers, but it quickly turned to groans and silence.

The Republican voters we spoke to were just overwhelmingly sad watching the debate. They didn’t get to see the normal firebrand entertainer Trump that they love. And their President is slipping away before their eyes.

By comparison, at a similar watch party I went to in 2020, the event felt more like watching a UFC fight, as the same two candidates gave it everything they had.

But they’re not the same people they were in 2020.

Donald Trump has become a more disciplined politician. And Joe Biden has aged. Badly.

So much of this debate format was designed in Joe Biden’s favour. It was hosted by CNN, with no audience for Trump to play to, and a mute button to silence him. Which meant what we saw was the plain, best and fairest representation of where Joe Biden is now.

And remember this hasn’t come out of nowhere. We’ve seen hints of this decline in the limited, and highly stage managed, appearances his White House team allows. His supporters have glossed over the fact he does the fewest interviews or press conferences of any modern day president.

America doesn’t have compulsory voting, and Joe Biden’s underwhelming performance at the debate gave undecided voters every reason to sit this election out.

If Donald Trump ends up back in the White House, we can thank the Democrats for making it happen.

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Originally published as Trump vs Biden leader debate 2024: How their performances may affect their election campaign