CNN’s Nia-Malika Henderson recently analyzed the fallout from Joe Biden’s debate performance and its continuing impact on his campaign. Despite Biden’s efforts to shift the narrative, concerns about his health and energy levels persist among voters.
Henderson highlighted the personal nature of the backlash Biden has faced. “This is getting really personal. And, you know, obviously we’ve covered the president, he can be, he can have a bit of a temper, and it certainly flashed in that conversation,” she said.
CNN political analyst said Biden’s appearances following debate “affirms” voters concerns about his mental acuity pic.twitter.com/mjQt4B1sNQ [1]
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 17, 2024 [2]
Biden has been attempting to prove that his debate performance was an anomaly, attributing it to being tired and having a cold. However, his subsequent appearances have not consistently reassured voters. Henderson noted, “The problem that Biden has is that he has gone out for the last three weeks to try to turn the narrative around, to say that the debate was just a one off, that he is, in fact, strong and vigorous, and was just having a bad night.”
She pointed out that while some of Biden’s appearances have been solid, others have not been as convincing. “His appearances so far since then, have been hit or miss. There have been some relatively strong appearances. The news conference was fine, even though he had some gaffes,” Henderson observed. However, she emphasized that issues remain: “But still he’s making gaffes. He’s still talking in a low voice. He still seems kind of infirm.”
Henderson cited specific instances that have fueled voter concerns. “In fact, when he walks and greets voters, I think he was out in Las Vegas, greetings and voters after that very strong NAACP speech up. And that’s what voters are seeing,” she explained.
These perceptions are not limited to the general public but are also reflected in the feedback from congressional districts. Henderson reported, “And that is what they’re telling folks in their districts, these Congress, folks who are complaining to the president, some complaining to Nancy Pelosi as well.”
Ultimately, Henderson concluded that the concerns about Biden’s health and vigor, initially highlighted by his debate performance, have not been fully dispelled. “So it’s not going away, because a lot of what we see of Biden still just affirms what folks saw in that debate,” she stated.