WASHINGTON, June 28 — Democratic US President Joe Biden and his Republican rival Donald Trump took the stage on Thursday night time (Friday morning, Malaysian Time) for a debate that provided voters a uncommon side-by-side take a look at the two oldest candidates ever to hunt the US presidency.
Here are a few of the main takeaways:
Hoarse and buggy
The main query going into the debate was how the two males, each of whom have confronted questions on their health for the job, would deal with themselves on stage.
The early going favoured Trump, 78, who appeared forceful and energetic when in comparison with the 81-year-old Biden, who spoke in a hoarse, halting voice and coughed frequently.
The White House mentioned throughout the debate that the president was struggling from a chilly.
Biden started to seek out his footing later in the debate as he attacked Trump’s character. “The concept that I might apologise to you?” Biden requested at one level, incredulous after Trump accused him of mistreating veterans.
“You’re the sucker. You’re the loser,” Biden informed Trump.
Each recommended the different was a legal.
“The solely particular person on this stage who’s a convicted felon is the man I’m proper now,” Biden mentioned after which accused Trump of getting intercourse with porn star Stormy Daniels.
The unhealthy blood between the two males was on show from the begin once they eschewed the conventional handshake. Biden continuously referred to Trump as “this man” and chuckled at a few of his opponent’s extra hyperbolic statements.
Sparring over the financial system
Both candidates blamed the different for the primary concern on voters’ minds: inflation.
Biden accused Trump of leaving him a “horrible” financial system in response to the moderators’ first query about rising costs paid by shoppers.
Trump replied that Biden’s dealing with of the Covid-19 pandemic was a “catastrophe” and mentioned inflation was “completely killing us.”
He blamed the pandemic for wrecking the financial system and his shot at re-election. “Everything was rocking good,” he mentioned.
Voters, proper now, appear to be agreeing extra with Trump than Biden, with polls exhibiting they favour Trump’s dealing with of the financial system.
Biden’s problem on Thursday was to clarify to viewers that his administration is the one which dug the nation out of the pandemic-induced gap.
“There was no inflation after I turned president,” Biden mentioned. “You know why? The financial system was flat on its again.”
Republican presidential candidate, former US President Donald Trump and Democrat presidential candidate, US President Joe Biden are seen on tv as individuals attend a watch social gathering for the first US presidential debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta, at Union Pub on Capitol Hill in Washington June 27, 2024. — eNM pic
Losing his prepare of thought
Biden appeared to lose his prepare of thought whereas responding to a query about the nationwide debt.
His voice trailing off a number of occasions, Biden first referred to “billionaires” as “trillionaires” earlier than correcting himself.
Then, whereas arguing that the rich ought to pay extra tax, he appeared unable to finish his sentence, pausing for an prolonged awkward second, earlier than ending his thought in a method that sounded nonsensical.
Tax reform would create cash to assist “strengthen our healthcare system, ensuring that we’re in a position to make each single solitary particular person eligible for what I used to be in a position to do with the, with the Covid, excuse me, with coping with all the pieces we needed to do with,” Biden mentioned earlier than pausing.
“We lastly beat Medicare,” Biden mentioned, seemingly referring to Covid-19.
Trump pounced.
“He’s proper. He did beat Medicare. He beat it to demise.”
The candy spot
In the weeks previous to the debate, the candidates and their campaigns overtly signaled what they needed to speak about: for Biden, it was abortion rights, the state of democracy and the financial system. Trump needed to speak immigration, public security and inflation. In every case, the candidates’ aides thought it will enable them to tee up profitable speaking factors.
They obtained their want: CNN’s moderators, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, opened the debate by asking about the financial system, earlier than turning to abortion and immigration, then hitting overseas coverage and the assaults on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The financial system is the primary concern for voters, and registered US voters favour Trump on the concern, 43 per cent to 37 per cent, in keeping with eNM/Ipsos polling this month. The Republican has a extra vital edge — 44 per cent to 31 per cent — on immigration. Americans favour Biden 36 per cent to 27 per cent on healthcare.
Whether the debate modifications these numbers stays to be seen. — eNM
