The fact that Joe Biden’s debate performance was so shocking was largely the result of how effectively his top aides have kept him in a protective cocoon — far away from cameras, questions and more intense public scrutiny — in an effort to manage public perceptions of the oldest person to ever hold the office. But inside the White House, the 81-year-old president’s growing limitations were becoming apparent long before last week’s on-camera disaster. And some staffers and other Democrats are blaming the small group of senior longtime aides who have the president’s ear and trust. “It’s the same people — he has not changed those people for 40 years,” said one Dem operative and close adviser to several members of Congress. “The number of people who have access to the president has gotten smaller and smaller and smaller,” another Dem strategist in a battleground state said. “They’ve been digging deeper into the bunker for months now.” And “the more you get into the bunker, the less you listen to anyone.” Full story at the link below. 📷 AP Photo/Gerald Herbert https://lnkd.in/eWJBNr23
Will Rankin
1w
Oh please ... An article based on hearsay, conjecture, and speculation. But no one's talking about the rousing campaign speech Biden gave the very next morning in North Carolina, where he sounded sharp and lucid, with a bit stronger voice than the night before. As a former political strategist and candidate, Biden's poor performance was in large part due to the fact that his advisors had him prep and practice too much, without giving him the day off before. He was obviously worn down when he took the podium at the debate. Should I have advised Biden, I would have done less prep and had him doing more organized rallies stacked with friendly crowds (like Trump does) leading up to the debate to energize him and make him sharp and more confident. But, I would have never let him debate a convicted felon in the first place, but rather belittle Trump on the campaign trail, as being not worthy and credible to debate, and arguing that it is Trump who should step aside. Trump has nothing to lose and everything to gain, because he knows what he's done and that he's going to prison one day real soon! Poor campaign advising for Biden's camp, something I doubt that will happen again, so expect Biden to do much better and the second one ...
Remember the reason they had to shield him is he is functioning at the 3rd grade level.
Alan Self
1w
We've been screaming this for years and everyone called it "fake news."
Nonsense: Biden has been front and center. Hard working president and gets too much criticism
Results-Driven Property Marketer & Writer — Hotels, Resorts, Lodging, Rentals, Housing, Residential/Commercial Real Estate
1wSeveral people I know have been telling me for the longest time that Biden's handlers -- not him -- are leading the country. I batted away their arguments, dismissing them as sheer hyperbole. I always did my best to give Biden the benefit of the doubt. But after the debate debacle, I'm convinced he needs to step down -- for the good of the party and country. I think his opponent is a worse option, but unfortunately, Biden seems unable to make that case vigorously. I think he needs to clear the way for a younger candidate who can inject excitement and is better able to lead the party to victory come November.