Editor’s note: After Thursday night’s face-off between Biden and President Donald Trump, The Washington Post consulted with a panel of experts to discuss what went right for each candidate and what went very wrong. These remarks have been edited for clarity and accuracy.
Here are their comments:
Doug Muzzio, retired professor of public policy at Baruch College:
“This was a disaster for Biden. Many Democrats are looking for a new candidate after this debate.”
“Biden was hesitant, rambling and at times incoherent.
“He literally froze on the Medicaid question, and that was his worst moment.
“One of Biden’s best lines was when he said Trump has the morals of a stray cat.
“Trump, on the other hand, was articulate and relatively coherent. He seemed to know what he was talking about. He lied a lot, but his lies were clear.”
“The most ironic comment was when Trump called Biden a total liar. He was projecting his own behavior.”
“But Biden was just awful — clumsy, stumbling, slurring his words.”
Rob Ryan, Republican consultant and aide to former Gov. George Pataki:
“The worst thing for Biden was the first shot of him and Trump side-by-side. That set the frame for the entire debate.
“Biden looked pale, wore poor makeup and had a raspy voice. Trump looked and sounded lively. Trump looked and sounded 20 years younger.”
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“Biden’s second worst moment came about 10 minutes into the debate when he lost his train of thought.
“Biden’s finest moment was when he called Trump a ‘whiner’ regarding his challenges to the 2020 election.
Trump’s worst moment [was] When he argued about his golf handicap.
“Trump’s best moments continued throughout the debate and the fact that he didn’t react too nastily or try to kill Biden. He let Biden be Biden. That’s why Trump won the debate.”
Hank Sheinkopf, former campaign aide to President Bill Clinton and longtime political strategist
“It was like two boys hitting each other in a school yard. They really hate each other.”
“The worst thing about Biden was that he kept staring off to the side of the stage, like he didn’t know where he was or like Flash Gordon had shot him with a ray gun.”
“Trump said we’ve lived hell for the last three and a half years, that’s a good line.
“It was great when Biden went on stage and said that Trump is a convicted felon.
“Biden blasted Trump for the Charlottesville rally and his comments about Hitler. They were good attacks, but they also contained some pretty embarrassing moments.”
“There were a few times when Biden was not in control. He was clumsy.
“Trump has been much more clear when he lied.
“Biden is a politician, Trump is an entertainer.”
“Do you want a decent human being who stutters sometimes, or do you want a funny entertainer? Trump is funny, Biden is not.”
Campaign Strategist O’Brien “OB” Murray:
“Usually it’s not nice for an older white guy to talk about his golf handicap. Everything President Trump said tonight about handicaps… [and how it relates to his age] is powerful and everything President Biden said about it was weak.
“If President Biden is this strong after seven days of rest, how is he normally?
“How many undecided voters in battleground states saw Biden early on and stopped watching?
“President Biden may have performed on radio… If you read the record, President Biden may have done a good job.”
“Biden calling Trump a stray cat was weak. Trump calling Biden the ‘Manchurian candidate’ might have been stronger.”
“Either way, I think voters would prefer a stray cat to President Biden’s performance tonight.”
“Biden has not even been able to articulate why he would be able to serve as president for the next four years, a move perhaps not dissimilar to Senator Ted Kennedy’s inability to answer why he was running for president. [in 1979].
“President Trump was so relaxed and unfocused that when asked the same question he decided to talk about golf. It was a missed opportunity for President Trump, but he still won the exchange powerfully.
Chris Coffey, campaign strategist, former Bloomberg aide, and mayoral candidate Andrew Yang
“The January 6 trial and conviction was a tough moment for Trump and reminded voters of the turmoil of his presidency.
“Biden’s worst moments came when he tried to get into the details of policy.
“The really worst thing for him was the Medicare extension ruling.
“It took Biden a few minutes to open up, then he came on strong and was angry at Trump. It was his finest moment.”
“Trump needed fact checkers, but the American people are smart enough to see through the deception.”
