Reaction to Biden after presidential debate

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Reaction coming swiftly on after Thursday’s first presidential debate.

There are just five months until the 2024 presidential election.

According to political consultant Jared Smith, Thursday’s debate did not seem to go in President Joe Biden’s favor.

“I thought the debate prep was a mispractice of a campaign with how Biden did it,” said Smith. “40 minutes until you mentioned, the guy you’re debating is a convicted felon. 45 minutes until you’ve mentioned that convicted felon was also found guilty of rape and slander?”

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump not only questioned each others’ policies, but each others’ fitness to hold the office.

Smith says former President Trump lied during the debate.

“I don’t think he remotely said anything factually for the entire 90 minutes. You can’t do that in this day and age like, you can do it on screen fact check.”

Some Democratic leaders are questioning Biden as a candidate, after what they consider his poor performance. But Smith says that is premature.

“Well, it’s very difficult if the president decides not to step down, you know, because they moved the convention up, they moved up the Ohio primary. So the actual mechanism of securing the nomination is almost pretty much done.”

There is some speculation it might be a good time for a governor Andy Beshear presidential candidacy.

Though Smith says, “I think somebody with Governor Beshear’s profile fits very well. I don’t know how well he’ll do on a national stage.”

Smith says he also has concerns with the debate and it he thinks it definitely shook voters’ confidence in Biden.

“You know, the President really had one job, and that job was to show your competence for the office, and he did not live up to that job. He did not meet the job.”

The next presidential debate will be Tuesday, September 10th.