According to political science professor Grant Reeher from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, most voters were left dissatisfied with the first Presidential debate and felt that neither candidate met their expectations. Reeher believes that the American people did not feel more informed about the candidates after the debate. He points out that President Biden seemed frail and difficult to follow, especially for those without a deep understanding of policy areas.
Reeher describes Biden as losing in the first 30 minutes of the debate, with Donald Trump coming across as more rational and presidential-like initially. However, as the debate progressed, Trump became more over-the-top, resembling a campaign rally. In contrast, Biden performed better in the second half of the debate as he attempted to answer questions, although he remained somewhat confusing.
Reeher notes that Trump consistently shifted the focus to US immigration and the border crisis when answering policy questions because he views them as winning issues. On the other hand, Biden’s team should work on getting him more energized and prepared to outline his accomplishments, particularly in the economic policy realm. Campaign advisors should advise Trump to avoid descending into negative tactics for the next debate.