Republicans panned Joe Biden’s speech accepting the Democratic nomination as thin on a governing agenda and thick on kitschy cliches. But quietly, GOP operatives conceded the spirited address packed a punch that undercuts President Trump’s argument that his opponent is in mental decline and unprepared to lead.

Biden, 77, capped off a four-day virtual convention with an impassioned speech from Wilmington, Delaware, imploring voters to choose light over darkness, hope over fear, and join him in a battle for the soul of America. Republicans took notice of the former vice president’s sharp delivery, acknowledging it rebuts Trump’s attack questioning the mental acuity of “Slow Joe” and charge that he is ill-equipped for the rigors of the White House.