"I Feel Terrible for Him and America": Voters Voice Concerns About Biden
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle on Thursday night. With Biden at 81 and Trump at 78, voters across the nation have expressed growing anxiety about the candidates’ ages, a sentiment amplified by the debate.
As the parties inch closer to their conventions, where they will formalize their candidates, supporters of both sides feel their options are limited. The BBC spoke with Democratic, Republican, and independent voters to gauge their reactions to Biden’s performance and whether it would influence their vote. We begin with a voter who feels compelled to support the president despite her reservations.
Lori Gregory, California Voter
A long-time Democrat, Lori Gregory found the debate difficult to watch and could barely keep it on. Despite the disappointing performances, she remains committed to voting blue in November.
“I didn’t watch the whole thing. I could not handle it. Is this the best our country can do? If Hillary had walked out in her pantsuit, I would have been happy as hell. I absolutely despise Trump and everything he stands for—his lying, cheating, and lack of morals. Biden is a much better human being, but I felt so bad for him last night; it was such a disappointment. I was expecting State of the Union ‘Jacked up Joe,’ but what we got was everything people say is wrong with him, all showing up on stage. I feel terrible for him and America, but we just have to ride it out. The debate disengaged me. I feel like there’s nothing I can do but vote blue, whoever it is.”
Dominic Bashford, Florida Voter
Dominic, a Libertarian who previously voted third-party, is now fully backing Trump.
“I’m a fan of Trump and will enthusiastically vote for him. Going into the debate, I thought the Republicans were setting themselves up for failure. I was surprised Biden did as poorly as he did; I thought he’d do better. I was moderately happy with Trump; he seemed much more presidential than in previous debates. The Trump on stage was different from 2016. He struck the perfect tone and didn’t take cheap shots at Biden’s age. Biden’s body language seemed very defeated, while Trump appeared presidential. I didn’t vote for Trump in 2016 or 2020, but my opinion of him has completely changed.”
Connor Callahan, Florida Voter
Connor, a Democrat who voted for Biden in 2020, plans to do so again but has concerns about the president’s age.
“I am nervous about a second Biden term. The people surrounding Biden are competent, and I believe he has the best interest of the country at heart. However, I am less confident in his ability to lead today. The administration’s efforts on infrastructure, rallying allies, pardoning marijuana offenses, investing in clean energy, and reducing prescription drug prices are monumental. Despite this success, I feel Biden may not be the best figurehead for these policies now. I couldn’t vote for Trump because of his actions and lack of moral character. His reduction of faith in our election system and enabling of hatred are unacceptable.”
Crystal Myers-Barber, California Voter
Crystal, a staunch Trump supporter, found Trump to be level-headed and presidential, while Biden appeared weak.
“Trump came across as very level-headed and presidential, and Biden came across as very weak. I didn’t think it was a good idea for Biden to do this debate; he didn’t look mentally sound to me. The fentanyl crisis, border security, and the economy are my top concerns, and Biden didn’t address them. I’m against abortion and like that Trump is pro-life and sides with Christian conservative values. I believe Trump will win after this debate, which solidified his chances.”
Shana Ziolko, Missouri Voter
Shana plans to back Biden but is unhappy with the current state of affairs.
“The debate was frustrating; neither candidate answered questions directly. Biden looked tired and weak, even if he had good things to say. Trump was aggressive and went off on tangents. I believe I’ll vote for Biden because I don’t want Trump in office. I’d prefer both parties reconsider their candidates. Before Biden announced re-election, I hoped he would step aside for someone else. But I’d rather have a Democrat in office than Trump.”
Eric Kaiser, Indiana Voter
Eric, an independent who voted third-party in 2020, remains undecided.
“Trump is an old psychopathic liar running to keep out of jail. Biden is old, feeble, and out of touch. Biden listens to different viewpoints, while Trump talks about what he wants. I’m undecided and will wait to see what happens. A lot can change before November. I want a candidate to vote for, not against. Neither Trump nor Biden seem up to four more years of presidency. Their argument about golf shows they’re more interested in other things than running the country.”
