Shane Goldmacher from The New York Times discusses how voters' doubts about President Biden increased after a poor debate performance, with Trump now leading nationally. The episode explores Biden's struggle to regain support within the Democratic Party amid concerns about his candidacy and pressure to demonstrate leadership skills.
Post-debate, Trump gained a significant lead over Biden among likely voters nationally.
Voters expressed doubts about Biden's age and effectiveness as a president.
Gender divide evident post-debate with Trump leading among men and Biden among women voters.
Deep dives
Impact of the Debate on Biden's Future
The recent presidential debate had a significant impact on Joe Biden's political future. Following the debate, a New York Times poll revealed that Donald Trump gained a notable lead over Biden, with a six percentage point lead among likely voters and a nine percentage point lead among registered voters. This shift in the race towards Trump raised concerns about Biden's ability to govern, especially concerning his age.
Concerns about Biden's Age and Effectiveness
The poll results highlighted growing concerns about Joe Biden's age and ability to serve as president effectively. The survey indicated that 74% of voters considered Biden too old to be an effective president. Notably, after the debate, doubts about Biden's age increased among Democrats and independents, impacting their perception of his effectiveness in the role.
Changing Voter Demographics and Support for Trump
The poll data showed significant shifts in voter demographics and support. The survey revealed a substantial increase in support for Donald Trump among men, with Trump leading by 23 percentage points among male voters. On the other hand, Biden maintained a lead among women voters but with a smaller margin. These changes highlighted the gender divide in voter preferences following the debate.
Increased Calls for Biden to Step Aside
The aftermath of the debate saw a growing chorus of Democrats, including members of Congress, expressing concerns about Joe Biden's candidacy. Calls for Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee escalated, with notable figures like Lloyd Doggett and Raul Grijalva publicly urging Biden to consider stepping down. The pressure on Biden to address his performance and reassure voters about his capabilities continues to mount.
Efforts to Address Concerns and Salvage Biden's Candidacy
In response to the escalating concerns, Joe Biden and his campaign team are taking steps to salvage his candidacy. Biden has engaged in meetings with key Democratic governors and allies to address the doubts regarding his ability to lead. He has also scheduled interviews and campaign appearances to demonstrate his readiness and capacity for the presidential role, recognizing the critical nature of these encounters.
A major Times poll has found that voters’ doubts about President Biden deepened after his poor performance in the first debate, with Donald J. Trump taking by far his biggest lead of the campaign.
Shane Goldmacher, a national political correspondent for The Times, explains what those results could mean for Mr. Biden’s future.
Guest: Shane Goldmacher, a national political correspondent for The New York Times.
Mr. Biden has been left fighting for his political future after his faltering debate performance. Read the latest.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
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