#Politics Just a reminder ... Sitting President #Obama bombed in the first 2012 debate. Sitting presidents usually bomb because they're distracted by the daily grind of running the country.

https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/25/politics/obama-debate-election-2012/index.html

#Politics #NYTimes criticism of the first #Obama / Romney debate in 2012.

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/us/politics/obama-and-romney-hold-first-debate.html

#Politics Here's a #Politico column criticizing #Obama performance in his first 2012 debate with Romney.

"A stunned Obama campaign acknowledged Thursday that President Barack Obama delivered a lackluster and even ineffectual performance in his leadoff debate against Mitt Romney, mistakenly opting for a cautious approach to handling his opponent that all too often left Obama looking timid and disengaged."

https://www.politico.com/story/2012/10/how-obamas-debate-strategy-bombed-082037

#Politics A Pew Research Center poll published October 8, 2012 after the first #Obama / Romney debate.

*****

Romney’s Strong Debate Performance Erases Obama’s Lead

GOP Challenger Viewed as Candidate with New Ideas

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2012/10/08/romneys-strong-debate-performance-erases-obamas-lead/

#Politics Spoiler for this thread ... Obama won a month later, 51.1% - 47.2%. Obama won the electoral college, 332-206.

So don't panic over last night's "debate." Lots of time to go.

#Politics From #CNN:

#Biden gave an animated speech today in North Carolina, acknowledging he gave a weak performance last night.

“I know I’m not a young man. I don’t walk as easily as I used to. I don’t talk as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to, but i know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job, I know how to get things done..”

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/28/politics/joe-biden-debate-performance-fallout/index.html

#Politics The #NYTimes just published an editorical demanding that #Biden drop out of the presidential race. 🙄

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/28/opinion/biden-election-debate-trump.html

#Politics Here's what the #NYTimes editorial board had to say in 2012 after #Obama didn't live up to their expectations in the first Romney debate.

"... Mr. Obama’s competitive edge from 2008 clearly dulled, as he missed repeated opportunities to challenge Mr. Romney on his falsehoods and turnabouts."

Sound familiar?

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/opinion/an-unhelpful-presidential-debate.html