JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Since President Joe Biden’s performance in last week’s debate sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party, News4JAX hosted a watch party to hear from viewers at the president’s effort to assure voters he could continue the job.
The viewers had several opinions about Biden’s interview, but they all agreed he should take a cognitive test.
“Joe Biden is not the man he was four years ago. He’s certainly not the man he was 12 years ago. You can kind of tell the difference between an earlier interview pre-recorded in the afternoon where he’s more awake and the debate that happened at 9 o’clock at night. He is more tired is pretty apparent, and it’s unfortunate,” Douglas Hanson said. “I don’t know that he’s going to have that capacity going forward.”
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Amelia King felt like the interview was not beneficial for voters.
“I don’t think he projected the confidence that Democratic voters want to see from him. I understand why he did it. To get back out there to show people he’s willing to go on television and speak but I don’t think it was his best performance,” King said.
Amelia King said despite her disappointment in both candidates, she will still vote.
“I will say I wish we had different people running from both parties. But I will have a vote, and I will see just how the remainder of the campaign plays out for both candidates. What they come up with for plans that haven’t really been well articulated,” she said.
For Ryan King, Amelia King’s husband, authenticity is something he would like to see from both presidential candidates.
“I’d like to see some plans. Tell me what you’re going to do. Everyone knows what the biggest credentials are for an American to go. They care about taxes. They care about the economy. They care about your schools being safe. These basic things, America being strong in foreign policy. So show me how you’re gonna do that,” he said.
News4JAX also spoke with people in the community about the presidential race.
“I think he should stay in the race. He’s come this far and I wouldn’t count him out because of what happened in the last debate. I mean, people are supporting Trump with this could be the felony status,” Dana Miller, owner of Man Cave Barbershop, said. “America has a heart to give him another chance to try to rectify what happened and to do better and I’m looking forward to it. I applaud him for willing to do this. This next step is to show America that he is competent enough to run for President.”