Stark Differences in Presidential Debate

The first, and possibly the only, presidential debate of 2024 between the incumbent Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump was expected to be a big factor in the election. Some were even calling it must-see TV. However, I am not sure anyone realized just how big it would be.

Here’s the good, the bad and the very ugly of it all:

The Good

With a shaky reputation over the last several years and a dwindling audience, CNN had a lot on the line in how they handled this debate. They had to work hard not to come across as bias and I have to say that for the most part they did just that during the debate itself. I can’t speak for the coverage before or after but at least during the debate they handled things with a good sense of professionalism and integrity. The moderators did a good job and tried to keep the candidates on task. This is a far cry from the poor moderation we have become used to in recent years. They did not, “fact check” the candidates live or interject their own opinions. This is how a debate should be run. It is about the candidates and the moderators should remain in the background doing nothing more than facilitating the event.

The Bad

As we have become used to in modern debates, the candidates frequently dodged questions and pivoted to what they wanted to emphasize. This was especially evident during the last 20 minutes or so. That segment of the dual generally felt like a bickering match rather than a substantive conversation and discussion. The moment focusing on comparing golf handicaps was silly and seemed so irrelevant in the grand scheme of it all.

The Very Ugly

Whoever made the decision to show the debate as a split screen of the two candidates gave the public a disturbing and clear contrast between the candidates. Former president Donald Trump seemed strong, coherent and ready to lead. The current president came across as fail and confused. It was actually sad and embarrassing. Even if you aren’t a fan of the guy, some part of your humanity had to feel sorry for him. There were several times he stumbled in his words and the entire time he spoke his voice came across as week and tired. And even when he wasn’t speaking, the right side of the screen showed a man who looked worn and distant in his blank stares. The Biden White House conveniently announced that the president had been fighting off a cold as the incumbent’s performance went poorly; perhaps trying to excuse or explain what came across as frailty and confusion.

The Takeaway

For better or for worse, the fact of the matter is that the substance of the debate itself was not what matted or will matter. The fitness and condition of each of these men was what people noticed and will care about. Those who turned in and those who will see clips from the debate on social media can realistically only come away with one conclusion. If they are honest with themselves, the whole thing was a bloodbath. While most debates, even the ones with a fairly clear “winner”, offer sound bites and moments that can be spun as positive for each candidate, this was the most lopsided debate in my lifetime. When initial analysis from both sides of the political spectrum seems to be saying the same thing – that one candidate had a disastrous performance, it must have been beyond obvious to the point it can’t be ignored or spun.