If you’re a supporter of former President Donald Trump, after last Thursday’s presidential debate, you’re probably elated. If you’re a supporter of President Joe Biden, there is a great deal of disappointment and sadness. Many Democrats entered into full panic mode, with some even calling for President Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, to be replaced.
As time passed, Democratic leaders like former President Barack Obama, Governor Gavin Newsom, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rallied to the President’s aid. Vice President Kamala Harris gave a full-throated defense of her partner in the executive branch of government. On the other side, former President Trump had his usual supporters rally around him, despite fact-checkers noting that he misled or lied during the debate approximately 30 times.
To be fair, President Biden also misled on more than 11 occasions. For instance, Biden incorrectly stated that drug prices for insulin were capped at $15 instead of the actual $35, and that out-of-pocket costs for seniors’ prescription drugs would be capped at $200 instead of $2,000. Despite these inaccuracies, many observers thought Biden was honest and intentional in defending his record.
As a political scientist with a degree from North Carolina A&T State University and a strategist with experience on numerous political campaigns at various levels, I believe the Biden campaign needs an immediate makeover. Whoever recommended a debate this early in the campaign schedule should be replaced. If the President came up with the idea, then the person who couldn’t talk him out of it should be replaced. Whoever prepared Biden for the debate should also be replaced. Debating Donald Trump and getting into the weeds with specific facts and details is a losing strategy.
Political debates are much like sports. It’s fierce competition where overtraining your candidate can be detrimental. Muhammad Ali, considered the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time, lost his title to Leon Spinks on February 15, 1978, at the age of 36. Many boxing pundits had varying opinions on whether Ali was overtrained or if he took Spinks, who was 12 years younger, for granted.
President Joe Biden has been training all his life for this battle. On December 18, 1972, his wife and daughter were killed in a fatal car accident, and his two sons, Hunter and Beau, were seriously injured. This tragedy occurred shortly after he was elected junior senator from Delaware at the age of 30. Many thought he would resign before being sworn in due to the tremendous grief, but Senate Democratic leadership convinced him to stay. They traveled to Delaware to swear him in at his sons’ hospital room. Biden traveled home every day by train after Senate sessions to be with his sons, a practice that continued until he married Jill and they had their daughter, Ashley.
So, for those Democratic operatives and pundits feeling defeated, grow a spine. The day after the debate, Joe Biden bounced back, stating, “I don’t walk as easily as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth.” One of my mentors, Uncle Charlie, once said to me, “When you get knocked down, just get up before they count to 10.” President Joe got up before they counted to 10.
Finally, as a political scientist, one of the greatest presidents in American history, in my opinion, was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He led the nation through the Great Depression and reluctantly entered World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor. When Roosevelt entered office in 1933, he was in a wheelchair, having been stricken with polio almost a decade earlier. Despite his illness, he was elected to four terms, showing that the American people valued his leadership and the Democratic Party’s programs. After his death in 1945, Vice President Harry Truman succeeded him and won the 1948 election, continuing Roosevelt’s legacy.
So, Papa Joe may move a little slow, but he knows what he knows, and that is the truth. And by the way, Muhammad Ali came back to fight Leon Spinks and convincingly won back his title. So it ain’t over till it’s over, and my money is on President Biden.
Art Blackwell is the host of the “Art of Politics” radio show.
