In a stark and somber mood on MSNBC Thursday night, anchor Alex Wagner did not hold back in her assessment of President Joe Biden’s performance at the CNN presidential debate in Atlanta. “There has been a uniformly negative reaction to Biden’s performance tonight,” Wagner said, reflecting the sentiments of progressive and Democratic circles.
Former President Barack Obama’s campaign manager, David Plouffe, described the moment as a “DEFCON 1 moment” following Biden’s lackluster performance on stage. The conversation quickly turned to the idea of potentially replacing Biden as the party’s nominee, with MSNBC host Joy Reid receiving messages expressing anxiety about the president’s performance.
Despite calls for Biden to step aside, other liberal voices urged patience as the campaign continued leading up to the November election. On Fox News, Trump supporter Sean Hannity relished what he called a “train wreck” for Biden’s performance, while downplaying the numerous falsehoods uttered by former President Donald Trump during the debate.
In the aftermath of the heated debate, the divide between progressive and right-wing media outlets was evident in their assessments of the candidates’ performances. While some called for Biden to withdraw from the race, others emphasized the importance of continuing to fight until the end of the campaign.
