After the debate disaster: Alarm bells rise in volume, but Biden defies calls to bow out

PRESIDENT Joe Biden’s stumbling television debate on CNN on Thursday (Jun 27) has raised two major questions: Can the Democratic presidential candidate recover from the setback? And if not, what should his political party do about it?

Recall that Biden’s aides were the ones who pressed for an early debate that would function as the formal kick-off of the presidential campaign, replacing Labor Day. Their overriding goal was to dispel doubts that their candidate was too old and frail to lead the United States for another four years.

Instead, the debate that was watched by more than 50 million viewers only helped to reinforce those doubts about whether he would be up to serving four more years in office.