Reported 12 months ago
On July 1, 2024, President Biden performed poorly in his first televised debate, intensifying doubts among voters about his ability to serve another four years as president. A survey conducted by CBS News and polling firm YouGov revealed that close to three-quarters of voters believe Biden should not run again, even among Democratic supporters, with nearly half supporting his withdrawal. Former President Trump's support slightly increased to 45.5% after the debate, widening the gap between him and Biden. Biden, aged 81, faced criticism for unclear speech and confused thoughts during the debate, leading to calls for him to withdraw from the Democratic Party. Despite attributing his performance to a cold, doubts about his mental and cognitive fitness for the presidency persist among voters, with 72% now deeming him unsuitable, up from 65% in June. A significant shift in the attitude of Democratic supporters was noted, with 46% now urging Biden to withdraw. Concerns about Biden's age were prevalent among those who believed he should not run again, with a majority citing his advanced years as the reason, along with concerns about his decision-making, dissatisfaction with his first term, and doubts about his campaigning abilities. Many voters felt that Trump outperformed Biden in the debate, although some criticized him for falsehoods. Another survey by AtlasIntel showed a slight increase in Trump's support to 45.5%, juxtaposed with a decline in Biden's support to 40.3%.
Source: YAHOO