Defiant Biden failed to silence the critics

Much was at stake when Joe Biden sat down to do his first interview since his maligned debate performance once morest Donald Trump.

Friday’s interview with ABC News was described as the last chance for Biden to repair the damage. Most commentators agree that Biden did better than in what was described as a disastrous debate eight days earlier.

But the interview did not do much to stop the “bleeding”, writes Politico. Unnamed sources in the Democrats tell the website that the president was quite successful in “postponing the execution”.

But it’s probably not enough to quell criticism within the party, Politico’s sources said right following the 22-minute interview was broadcast in its entirety.

Felt terrible

That Biden’s effort was better than last time is saying very little, notes also CNN’s Stephen Collinson. But the president at least appeared more collected than during the CNN debate and did not create any new disasters, the political reporter believes.

– But it did little to quell the storm raging in the election campaign apparatus, claims Collinson.

At the same time, Biden’s own explanation for the debate failure once morest Trump – that he was sick and “felt terrible” – has raised new questions regarding the 81-year-old’s physical and cognitive health.

– Obvious confusion

When ABC’s George Stephanopoulos asked if the president had seen the tape of the debate, he replied “I don’t think so, no.” It was an expression of clear confusion, according to a number of American media.

Several analysts also emphasize the strangeness of the fact that the president himself should not have watched the debate, which has received such massive criticism.

The New York Times states that several of Biden’s answers to Stephanopoulos are neither convincing nor particularly coherent. In several cases, Biden stopped for several seconds and looked like he was searching for words, writes newspaper in an analysis.

The New York Times recently called for leadership position Biden to withdraw as a candidate.

Asked by Stephanopoulos how he might possibly be persuaded to surrender, Biden laughed and replied:

– If the Lord Almighty comes down and asks me to do it, maybe I will do it.

– Rule the world

There is also skepticism regarding Biden’s efforts in The Washington Post. Newspaper columnist Dana Milbank write that the president listened to Stephanapoulos with his “mouth agape”, that he lost the thread and apparently got lost in his own thoughts and reasoning.

– It really is a problem. The country talks regarding Biden’s mental capacity instead of the threat of Trump’s return to power, writes Milbank.

He predicts that the attention to Biden’s health will lead to Donald Trump winning the presidential election in November.

When asked if he is willing to take a cognitive test, Biden replied in the interview that every single day is such a test for him.

– Every day I take that test. Everything I do. You know, not only do I campaign, I rule the world, the president said.