David Axelrod wasn’t too enthusiastic about Joe Biden’s debate performance.
Axelrod, 64, best known for being the chief strategist for former President Barack Obama’s two successful presidential campaigns, worried about Biden’s performance after his second debate of the 2020 presidential primaries.
“The good for Joe Biden is this was maybe the best he could do and the bad news is this may be the best he could do — he was much better than last time, he was much more engaged, but I agree with these guys, he had moments in which he was uncertain, where he was on the defensive,” Axelrod said.
“And the main thing is he was the guy who was going to take on Trump and bring it to Trump and restore values and decency,” he added. “Tonight he had to be a gut-fighter, and I think he paid some price for that.”
During the debate Biden, 76, took numerous barbs from his fellow contenders, but his responses to the attacks and some of his own statements were littered with fumbles. In his closing remarks, Biden said that “eight more years of Trump will change America in a fundamental way,” despite President Trump only being eligible for one more four-year term.
On immigration Biden was attacked by Obama-era Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio over the 3 million deportations of immigrants that occurred while he was vice president. He was also heckled for those deportations by members of the audience.
Biden accidentally addressed Booker as “president” before referring to the 50-year-old senator as the “future president.”
“Well first of all, I’m grateful that he endorsed my presidency already,” Booker said in response.
At one point, he referred to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as the “TTP” instead of the correct acronym, “TPP.”
Biden also told supporters to “go to Joe 3-0-3-3-0,” although he likely meant to text the number 30330, which subscribes supporters to updates about his campaign.
