Local reactions to presidential debate: ‘Missed opportunity’

DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) — Moments from last night’s debate are raising concerns for both parties. Those concerns are different for each.

Within the Democratic Party, questions are coming up about whether Joe Biden is right for their nomination. Replacing him would be a lengthy process.

“Is there going to be a really strong push within his inner circle and then kind of the process of how the Democrats would, if they want to, replace the president on the ticket?” said Dan Birdsong, a UD senior lecturer of political science.

“And if there is still Biden, which was I’m assuming it is, he’s going to have to do a better job of being on the attack,” said Birdsong.

While former President Trump appeared more confident than President Biden, fact-checkers are calling several statements about the economy and immigration into question.

“Trump, I’m assuming that he’s just going to keep attacking the way he did last night and see what sticks because, it’s going to be probably a lot of the same from the Trump campaign,” said Birdsong.

A day before the debate, both Trump and Biden launched outreach events to appeal to Black voters. However in the debate, neither spoke at length or in-depth on topics pertinent to minority voters who historically lean left.

“If they think about it in that kind of just that way, it does lead them away from actually saying what are the problems that are that are facing this community, that are unique and how can we as an administration address that?” said Birdsong.

Birdsong believes it was a missed opportunity on both sides to win over minority and undecided voters.

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