I have read the past several pages about Biden, the interview, etc, and here are the realities:
1) George Stephanopolos was tough on Biden because he is a good journalist, and that was typical and indicative of what mainstream media does on a regular basis. The difference between that and Fox News is clear.
2) Biden was adequate in the interview with Stephanopolos. He did NOT "knock it out of the park." The adequacy did not erase the badness of the debate. Biden spent a lot of time talking about what he has accomplished in his term so far, and that's fair (and he HAS accomplished a LOT...a lot more than I ever thought he would), but that isn't really relevant to the issue at hand...is he capable to continue to do that job in the FUTURE. I know he said yes to that, but he wasn't super strong in that assertion and brought up his past accomplishments too much when Stephanopolos pressed him on whether he was capable going forward.
3) Trumpers shouldn't get too excited about post-debate polling, and Democrats shouldn't get too down on it. Polling is always a snapshot in time, so today in July it means nothing. It is also crystal clear that Democrats have been underrepresented in polling over at least the last two years if not longer and that polling is less accurate today than ever before.
4) I DO think Biden should drop out. He's too old, and it's showing. Is he ready for the nursing home? Of course not...but the bar for The President of the United States SHOULD BE higher.
5) Whether it's Harris or Biden, it is time for the campaign to actually get going. Trump is a serial liar. Trump is a convicted felon 34 times over. Trump is responsible for getting Roe v. Wade overturned (which is against what 70% of voters want). Trump lost more jobs than he created during his Presidency...the first since Hoover to do that. Under Biden, we have record low unemployment, record high wages, record high stock market, and we have seen very high inflation drop to historic norms.
6) I will as equally support any Democrat party nominee for President against Donald Trump, because the thing that is PARAMOUNT in this election is getting rid of Trump once and for all. We are not in a situation to be able to take it any further than that. Would it be better as far as winning to have Harris in there instead of Biden? Not sure. This is unchartered waters. She has a lot of her own negativity that Biden doesn't have even if she is NOT in decline due to age.
7) I still BELIEVE that a Democrat will win over Trump, even if it is Biden. It is NOT a for sure thing now though as it was before the debate. Do I THINK Biden will beat Trump if it's between the two of them? Yes. CAN Trump win this election now though whether it is Biden or Harris? Yes. So, until things change one way or another, no solid prediction for me right now.
Oh, and if I were in Trump's camp, I would NOT debate Biden a second time. There is no upside to it at all for Trump. Trump can claim he is being kind by not putting Biden through that again, and it doesn't give Biden the opportunity to just do better. I don't think anyone should expect Biden to do better, but seeing how bad the first one was, it is POSSIBLE that he could do better, and Trump should not give Biden that chance.
