Former U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and former U.S. President Bill Clinton (R) cheer on U.S. President Joe Biden during a campaign fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on March 28, 2024.
Brendan Smialowski | Episode | Getty Images
Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton sought to do some damage control on Friday after President Joe Biden's debate with his November election opponent, former President Donald Trump.
“Bad debate nights happen. Believe me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary people his whole life and someone who only cares about himself.” Obama said in a post on X, with a link to Biden's campaign website. “Last night didn't change that, and that's why so much is at stake in November.”
A few hours later, Clinton mimicked the defensive play.
“I leave the assessment of the debate to the experts, but I do know this: facts and history matter,” Clinton he said in his own post on X, followed by a brief list of Biden's achievements.
During the 90-minute confrontation on Thursday, Biden frequently stumbled, pausing mid-sentence to collect his words and stumbling over his sentences. The gaffes even occurred on topics like abortion and the economy, which he has typically been clear about during campaign rallies and White House events.
Obama and Clinton's message marks a strategic shift for Democrats, who are trying to turn the tide after Thursday's failure.
Much of the Democrats responding immediately after the debate tried to downplay Biden's glaring gaffes, instead attacking Trump's performance and giving Biden a generous evaluation.
As the evening progressed, I think [Biden] He really took advantage of the opportunity,” Biden co-campaign chairman Mitch Landrieu told NBC News after the debate Thursday evening. “I'm proud of the fact that he stood up to Donald Trump.”
Obama and Clinton's comments represent a new tactic: acknowledge the disastrous debates, then tell the public not to focus on them.
Biden himself followed that formulation on Friday at a rally in North Carolina: “Folks, I don't walk as smoothly as I used to. I don't talk as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I did. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth.”
But debates are important to voters. After the September 2020 debate, a series of polls showed voters thought Biden was doing better, helping him maintain his lead over Trump.
This year's presidential election has ended almost evenly so far and is expected to be won by a narrow margin in November. So there is little room for error.
In the days since the debate, Democrats have fretted about how it might weigh on voter perceptions, which are already fraught with concerns about Biden's age and fitness to lead the country for another four years.
Some Democratic strategists, donors and experts have already suggested that Biden should withdraw from the race and open the Democratic field to potentially stronger candidates.
The Biden campaign has so far rejected that proposal. Biden and Trump are scheduled to meet in a second and final debate on Sept. 10.
