JUST IN: Poll Shows 67% Of Debate Watchers Think Trump Won As Biden Struggles

On Thursday, Joe Biden struggled to dispel doubts about his age during an intense debate with Donald Trump, marked by personal insults.

Trump sharply criticized Biden, calling him unsuccessful in handling economic and international issues. Biden tried to respond but his speech was uneven, rapid, and raspy, with several pauses and stumbles. Despite extensive preparation, Biden’s performance raised new concerns within the Democratic Party as polls show Trump either tied or leading for the November election. This was the first debate between a sitting president and a former president, with both accusing each other of being the worst in history.

Biden and Trump, the oldest presidents when elected, also called each other childish while arguing about their golf skills.

Biden, 81, and Trump, 78, did not shake hands upon arriving at their podiums at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. The debate had no live audience, and their microphones were muted while the other spoke.

Biden, reportedly suffering from a cold, directed rehearsed jabs at Trump, reminding viewers that Trump could be the first convicted felon in the White House. “You have the morals of an alley cat,” Biden said.

Trump, experienced in rallies and reality TV, spoke loudly, listing numerous grievances about Biden’s performance. “I’m friends with a lot of people. They cannot believe what happened to the United States of America. We’re no longer respected,” Trump stated. He mocked Biden’s delivery, saying, “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don’t think he knows what he said either.”

Vice President Kamala Harris moved to manage the fallout. In a live CNN interview, Harris defended Biden’s record as “extraordinarily strong” but acknowledged concerns about his debate performance. “Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish,” she said.

Kate Bedingfield, a former Biden communications director, described the evening as “really disappointing” for the president. “I don’t think there is any other way to slice it,” she added.

A CNN poll showed that 67 percent of viewers believed Trump won the debate.

Democrats plan to formally nominate Biden as their candidate in August in Chicago, with few options to change course unless Biden withdraws. Biden has tried to fend off attacks from Trump, who claims he lacks the vigor for the presidency.

Julian Zelizer, a historian at Princeton University, noted that Biden’s supporters would be “extremely concerned.” “Biden fueled the basic perception that has continued to overshadow him,” he said.

At a watch party in San Francisco, Hazel Reitz expressed continued support for Biden but lamented, “I can’t understand a word that he says. Isn’t it sad?”