Millions of Americans saw one Joe Biden on Thursday night: halting, hesitant, meandering and looking burdened by every one of his 81 years. Democrats were aghast.
Fourteen hours later, a smaller number of television viewers saw a different Joe Biden: forceful and confident, landing political punches on former President Donald J. Trump with ease. Democrats in the room cheered.
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During the presidential debate on Thursday, President Biden repeatedly stumbled when speaking.
And I’m going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the — the total initiative. And then you think he’ll stop there? Do you think he’ll stop when — if he takes Ukraine? What do you think happens to Poland? What do you think Belarus? What do you think happens to those NATO countries? For the ability — for the — us to be able to negotiate drug prices with the big Pharma companies. Eligible for what I’ve been able to do with the — with the COVID — excuse me, with — everything we have to do with — look — if — we finally beat Medicare. “Thank you, President Biden. President Trump?” He was right. He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death, and he’s destroying Medicare.
Mr. Biden and his allies no doubt wished the appearances had been delivered in reverse order. The tepid and weak debate performance by Joe Biden One caused an immediate freak-out among those determined to see Mr. Trump lose in November. Some publicly broached the unthinkable: a new candidate.
The afternoon appearance in a fairground warehouse in North Carolina was seen by far fewer people, and seemed unlikely to immediately quell the hand-wringing among Washington consultants, media pundits and ordinary voters.
And yet, in the middle of the panic, Joe Biden Two showed that, even after five decades in public life, he can still pump his fist in the air, stir a crowd to cheer and perhaps inspire an unwieldy coalition to vote for him one more time.