Biden's Post-Debate Strategy Returns Focus to Core Presidential Duties

President Joe Biden is attempting to regain his footing after a challenging debate performance. Despite efforts to calm Democratic concerns and reassure donors, Biden is focusing on portraying Donald Trump as a national threat and returning to his presidential duties. This week, his schedule includes a briefing on extreme weather, a campaign reception, a Medal of Honour ceremony, and the traditional July 4th White House barbecue, followed by a weekend in Wilmington, Delaware.

Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged the debate's impact during a Sunday fundraiser, admitting it wasn't Biden's "finest hour." However, she emphasised the clear contrast between Biden and Trump, labelling Trump as "a threat to our democracy" and "a liar." Despite public efforts to shift focus back to Trump, private discussions are ongoing about how Biden can counteract the negative impressions from the debate.

Focus on Trump

Quentin Fulks, Biden's principal deputy campaign manager, highlighted Trump's threat in a call with reporters. He stated, "When you do see President Biden out on the trail, he will be talking about the reasons why Americans should be scared of Donald Trump, as he has been for months." This strategy aims to keep the spotlight on Trump rather than Biden's debate performance.

Campaign officials have not announced new events but confirmed that Biden will continue campaigning in battleground states. An ad released on Monday titled "I Know" featured clips from Biden's post-debate rally in North Carolina, where he said: "When you get knocked down, you get back up." This message aims to reinforce resilience and determination.

Polling and Public Appearances

Biden's team is awaiting more substantial polling data before making significant changes to their strategy. Some advisers suggest increasing Biden's public appearances through town-hall events or interviews. However, many believe that the current approach will suffice, especially after Biden's family encouraged him to stay in the race during a Camp David meeting.

Rebecca Katz, who worked on Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman's campaign, sees potential parallels between Fetterman's recovery from a shaky debate performance and Biden's situation. Fetterman's team focused on highlighting his opponent's controversial comments and increased his visibility through local television interviews. Katz believes this approach could work for Biden as well.

Addressing Concerns

Jennifer Palmieri, former White House communications director under Obama, suggested that Biden should participate in more interviews to show that the debate was an anomaly. She stated, "Their focus needs to be on getting him in front of voters that matter the most." Palmieri also noted that promoting Biden's strong speech in North Carolina and continuing to post strong fundraising numbers are effective tactics.

Biden expressed interest in doing at least one interview. At a Saturday fundraiser in East Hampton, New York, he mentioned speaking with broadcaster Howard Stern again after an April interview where he discussed his early years. Biden told the crowd he enjoyed Stern's show and was ready for another sit-down.

Internal Discussions

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Biden's campaign have been conducting damage control through finance calls and discussions with donors and committee members. Some committee members felt they were being asked to overlook a serious issue but were not given an opportunity to ask questions during these calls.

Campaign officials have stated there is no discussion of Biden exiting the race or any staff shake-ups following the debate. The DNC plans to use a virtual roll call to formally nominate Biden before the convention begins in Chicago on August 19. However, details about when this will happen remain unclear.

Biden's age has been a concern for voters even before the debate. The prime-time faceoff brought this issue into sharper focus for perhaps the largest audience he will have until Election Day. CNN reported that over 51 million people watched the debate.

Ultimately, there is a sense that voters may now scrutinise Biden more closely for signs of capability following his debate performance. The campaign hopes that continued efforts to highlight Trump's threats and promote positive messages will help mitigate any lasting damage from the debate.