A halting Biden tries to confront Trump at debate but stirs Democratic panic about his candidacy
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President Joe Biden, in a raspy and sometimes halting manner, tried to confront former President Donald Trump in their first debate ahead of the November election. Biden's performance, particularly his delivery, raised concerns about his age and sparked panic among Democrats. Trump countered Biden's criticism with falsehoods about the economy, illegal immigration, and his role in the Capitol insurrection. Biden repeatedly tore into Trump, but Trump declined to clearly state he would accept the results of the election. Biden's performance drew immediate criticism from Trump's allies and prominent Democrats, leading to discussions about whether he should continue as the party's nominee. Biden appeared to lose his train of thought at times and fumbled on issues like abortion rights. Trump sought to deflect blame for the Capitol riot and equivocated on accepting the election results. The debate highlighted the sharp differences between the two candidates and their deep hostility toward each other. Concerns about Biden's age were prevalent before the debate, with many Americans questioning whether he is too old to serve as president. Trump allies declared victory in the debate, while Biden supporters expressed disappointment. Biden has no plans to leave the race and indicated he will continue. The debate took place after Biden spent nearly a week preparing at the Camp David presidential retreat. The article includes quotes from various political figures and analysts.



https://apnews.com/article/bidentrumppresidentialdebate-0e7577e9a354a69f50675494fea54ca9