Biden Stands Unmoved in Polls Despite Shaky Debate Performance
In an unexpected twist, the Biden team revealed on Monday that the recent weak performance of President Biden in the first presidential debate has not had a significant impact on his standing in voter polls. The results from Monday’s internal campaign poll, led by Geoff Garin of Hart Research, was a beacon of reassurance for Democrats, silencing fears that the president’s verbal stumbles during the debate could potentially cripple his candidacy.
Concerns about Biden’s Age
The administration believes that despite public concerns about President Biden’s advanced age, the voters’ decision-making process had already factored in this element prior to the debate. It further suggests that the debate has not incited any substantial reconsideration among voters.
On the contrary, the Biden team indicates that many supporters, despite acknowledging visible signs of ageing, stand by the president due to either a recognition of his past accomplishments or the less-than-desirable alternative of a second Trump presidency.
Biden’s Ratings Post Debate
In Garin’s memo concerning polling, it was noted that some of Biden’s 2020 voters felt more negatively toward him following the debate. However, these voters continued to show overwhelming support for him in trial heats. An encouraging sign for the campaign, these voters responded positively when shown a video of Biden’s dynamic performance at a rally on Friday in North Carolina, a video that has been utilized in television advertisements.
Comparison with Trump
The poll also revealed that Biden continues to have the edge over Trump on questions about who the voters trust more to protect democracy and to prioritize the country over their personal interests. Notably, Trump’s favorability ratings, which have traditionally been higher, rose slightly but, still, Biden’s remained constant even after the debate.
Future Perspectives
This unexpected turn of events has given a ray of hope to Democrats. Biden’s team expects that the upcoming public and private polls over the next few weeks will mirror these results. The belief remains strong that despite his debate performance, Biden remains the preferred presidential candidate, with fears of a Trump Presidency overshadowing any concerns about Biden’s verbal missteps or indications of age.
The Anticipation of Democratic Donors and Elected Leaders
While Democrats take heart in these numbers, many Democratic donors and elected leaders indicate that they are still waiting for public and private polling before deciding whether or not to publicly call for a possible replacement for Biden in the race. Despite Biden’s questionable debate performance, his campaign remains hopeful that the numbers will continue to show the public’s preference for him in the race.
Responses to Debate Performance
Garin noted, “Those voters who were concerned about [Biden’s] performance are sticking by him in overwhelming numbers and just think that Trump is a completely unacceptable alternative.” Public skepticism remains high about Biden’s ability to perform key tasks associated with the role of President and his cognitive competence to carry them out. However, as indicated by the recent polls, Biden’s support base remains largely unchanged.
Looking into the future, the looming question is whether these poll numbers will remain consistent through the coming weeks and what the implications could be for both the Biden and Trump campaigns if they fluctuate.
