#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