Staff Reports
The first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump is set for this coming Thursday in Atlanta, and even mainstream media pundits are finally tackling the elephant in the room: Biden’s cognitive decline.
On Friday’s episode of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” journalist and political analyst Elise Jordan uncharacteristically candidly framed Biden’s predicament. She made it clear that Biden absolutely cannot afford a senior moment during the debate. This revelation is not exactly breaking news for conservatives who have been pointing out Biden’s mental lapses for years, but coming from a mainstream liberal network like MSNBC, it’s pretty significant.
Even Mainstream Media Pundit Admits It's Over If Biden Has a 'Senior Moment' in Debate via @WestJournalism https://t.co/6Ihf5k16YJ
— Nancy Crebs (@CrebsNancy) June 23, 2024
Jordan further spelled out the problem for the Biden campaign by noting that his own voters are anxious about his performance. During her recent trips to Wisconsin and Michigan for focus groups, she heard from Biden supporters who, despite their allegiance, expressed unease regarding his abilities due to his age. These are loyal Democratic voters who plan to cast their ballots for Biden, yet they harbor serious concerns about his mental fitness.
While MSNBC continues to discuss Biden’s campaign winning a coin flip allowing him to choose the right-side podium—and consequently granting Trump the final closing statement—the more critical issue for Biden’s campaign looms larger. A major senior moment during this debate could be catastrophic for his chances. Conservatives might not be shocked by this analysis but hearing it from one of the most pro-Biden networks serves as a reality check.
For months, left-wing media outlets have been doing backflips to avoid addressing Biden’s faltering mental state. Following the president’s bizarre antics at the D-Day 80th anniversary and his peculiar behavior on stage with Barack Obama at a recent Los Angeles fundraiser, media pundits have rushed to label any embarrassing footage as “cheap fakes.” However, the reality becomes harder to deny when even MSNBC acknowledges the possibility of Biden’s mental lapses in a live debate setting.
Should Biden falter on stage, it would fall on Trump to highlight these moments, particularly if CNN moderators like Dana Bash and Jake Tapper attempt to downplay them. Emphasizing Biden’s unfitness—borrowing Jordan’s phrasing that he isn’t “up to the task”—would be most impactful if broadcasted live on a major network like CNN, leaving left-wing media and the White House Press Secretary scrambling to spin the narrative.
As the nation anticipates this debate, it’s evident that Biden’s cognitive decline is not just a talking point for conservatives but a growing concern across the political spectrum. His camp might attempt last-minute fixes, but a live debate is unforgiving. The countdown to Thursday is on, and Biden’s performance could determine much more than just the outcome of this debate—it could influence the trajectory of his entire campaign.
