The fallout from President Joe Biden’s highly shaky debate performance is spilling over into lower-level races, further jeopardizing the already-weakened Democratic Party’s electoral chances.
Biden’s candidacy on Thursday immediately set off five alarm bells within the Democratic Party, with pundits and commentators immediately beginning to consider the possibility of a presumptive Democratic nominee to replace Biden.
WATCH: “What if… We Finally Win Medicare”: Trump does a double take as Biden blunders on stage:
Courtesy of CNN Presidential Debate
But the impact on the Democratic Party goes far beyond Biden, who reportedly will not step down.
Jake Sherman, founder of Punchbowl News, stressed that Biden’s “failure to clear the lowest expectations” on Thursday night created “very serious problems” for lower-ranking Democratic candidates.
I’ve had many conversations with Democrats in the last seven hours. Their perception is that this debate wasn’t bad. It was far worse than that. In their view, Biden didn’t even meet the minimum standards. They may agree with him on policy, but Biden…
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) June 28, 2024
“I have had many conversations with Democrats over the past seven hours. Their perception is that this was not a bad debate. In fact it is far worse than that,” he wrote.
“In their view, Biden has not even met the minimum standards. We may agree on policies, but Biden has not even been able to clearly explain what his policies are. For Democrats, this is a very serious problem,” he stressed.
Republican candidates in tight Senate races were quick to link their opponents to the president following his weak speech.
For example, Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno closely linked his opponent, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), to Biden in a post on X.
“Think about what we saw tonight about Joe Biden. Sherrod Brown supports Biden for President and is voting for Biden 99% of the time,” Moreno wrote.
Think about Joe Biden, as we saw tonight: Sherrod Brown supports Biden for president and votes for Biden 99% of the time. https://t.co/BEmJ6FlE3W
— Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) June 28, 2024
Indeed, Moreno released an ad linking the two before the debate called “In Tandem,” which showed two men resembling Biden and Brown riding tandem bikes erratically through a Washington, D.C., park, before colliding just out of frame.
Sherrod Brown is always with Biden. pic.twitter.com/NyrD3LlyZY
— Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) June 27, 2024
Senator Brown is one of the most vulnerable senators up for re-election in this election, and his seat, along with that of Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.), is a key part of Republicans’ hopes of gaining a Senate majority.
Tester, like Brown, was struggling until Thursday night as an incumbent Democrat in a Republican state where Trump topped the list, but after Biden’s performance, Montana Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy was quick to point out that Tester had vouched for Biden’s health.
After Joe Biden’s terrible debate performance tonight, Montana, remember this. Jon Tester love @JoeBiden.
Tester thinks Biden is “100% for it” and will vote for Biden 95% of the time!! #Retired as a tester https://t.co/fg9sKQzhOd
— Tim Sheehy (@SheehyforMT) June 28, 2024
“After Joe Biden’s terrible debate performance tonight, Montanans, please remember this. Jon Tester love @JoeBiden“Tester believes Biden is ‘100% for it,’ and votes for Biden 95% of the time!” Sheehy wrote.
The ties aren’t just limited to the races for the two most vulnerable seats this season for Republicans outside West Virginia: In nearly every Senate race that Republicans have a reasonable chance of winning, GOP candidates linked their opponents to Biden after the election.
Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick accused Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) of lying when he defended Biden’s eligibility to be president.
“Bob Casey has repeatedly claimed that his ‘best friend’ Joe Biden, who votes with him 98% of the time, is the right man for president,” McCormick said. “What we all saw last night proves that Mr. Casey is lying.”
Bob Casey has repeatedly said that his “best friend” Joe Biden, with whom he votes 98% of the time, is the right man for president.
What we all saw last night proves that Casey is lying. pic.twitter.com/8vUy4F5FIk
— Dave McCormick (@DaveMcCormickPA) June 28, 2024
In Arizona, Republican Rep. Kali Lake accused her state’s Senate opponent, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), of “hiding” after the debate.
“Did you notice? Ruben Gallego “Why did Trump remain silent during that debate?” she wrote. “He knows it’s embarrassing for his party and the man he supports 100%.”
“While Ruben hides away trying to avoid the burden that is Joe Biden, I continue to proudly support Trump’s America First policies that benefit all Arizonans,” she added.
Did you notice? Ruben Gallego Were you silent during the debate?
He knows it would be embarrassing for his party and the man he supported 100%.
While Ruben hides away trying to escape the burden that is Joe Biden, I continue to proudly support… pic.twitter.com/HtNqShK1fJ
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) June 28, 2024
Retired Army Captain Hun Kao, who is running as the Republican candidate against Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) in Virginia, has said Kaine will be Biden’s “ticket mate” and stressed that he will tout the administration’s achievements throughout the campaign.
“You are definitely on Joe Biden’s ticket, and we won’t let anyone forget that,” Kao added.
Tim Kaine: “I will be a supporter of Joe Biden as I run for office in Virginia in 2024. I intend to run a very vigorous campaign to promote the work of a Biden Administration.”
You are definitely on the Joe Biden ticket. And we will not tolerate that…
— Hung Cao (@HungCao_VA) June 28, 2024
Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown continued this trend, targeting his rival, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
“Tonight Nevadans saw for themselves what the Joe Biden/Jacky Rosen pairing will look like in November, and it is disastrous,” he wrote in a post on X. “For nearly four years, Jacky Rosen has supported Joe Biden and voted for him 98% of the time.”
Tonight, Nevadans saw for themselves what the Joe Biden-Jacky Rosen pairing will look like in November, and it is disastrous.
Jacky Rosen has supported Joe Biden for nearly four years, voting for him 98% of the time.
It is clear that our state and country cannot and must not…
— Sam Brown (@CaptainSamBrown) June 28, 2024
“In November, Nevadans will be proud to play a key role in electing President Trump, retaking the Senate majority for the Republican Party, and ensuring Joe Biden and Jacky Rosen’s retirement,” the retired Army captain added.
Wisconsin Republican candidate Eric Hovde and Michigan Republican candidate Mike Rogers also accused their opponents of working closely with Biden.
Hovde shared a video of Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., saying the Biden administration has been “one of the most successful administrations in generations” on the legislative front.
It was one of the least successful presidential debates in American history.
Wisconsinites deserve better. pic.twitter.com/nA4XQ4aPhH
— Eric Hovde (@EricHovde) June 28, 2024
“This was one of the least successful presidential debates in American history. Wisconsinites deserve better,” he wrote in the post’s caption.
“I vote 100% for Joe Biden but haven’t said a word about tonight’s debate,” Rogers wrote of Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who is challenging retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).
.Elissa Slotkin She votes 100% for Joe Biden, but hasn’t said a word about tonight’s debate. Did she sign another NDA to stay silent?
— Mike Rogers (@MikeRogersForMI) June 28, 2024
“Did she sign another non-disclosure agreement to stay silent?” he added.
Democrats and allied independents currently hold a one-seat majority in the Senate, 51-49. If Trump were to retake the White House, Republicans would need a net gain of just one seat to secure a simple majority.
Conversely, Democrats’ best chances may lie in the heavily Republican states of Florida and Texas, where they face strong incumbents in Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), who could be longshots.
In other words, Republicans are well positioned to win a sizable plurality: if they win all of the races above, plus win West Virginia, which would likely replace retiring Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV), and if Cruz and Scott stay in their positions, Republicans would have a 58-42 majority.
