Three problems Biden had before debate even started

President Joe Biden 's shaky debate performance Thursday has caused fear in many Democratic circles, but the problems for the president may have begun before the debate even started.

Unlike in previous years, the debate was hosted by one network rather than the Commission on Presidential Debates, and the rules for this debate were the product of demands from both campaigns. Biden's campaign lined up a list of stipulations it had to agree to, but some of those rules may have backfired when the big night came for the president.

Here are three things that may have caused problems for Biden before the debate even began.

The Biden campaign had said "a candidate’s microphone should only be active when it is his turn to speak, to promote adherence to the rules and orderly proceedings," in a letter last month outlining its stipulations for agreeing to a debate, but the rule appeared to benefit former President Donald Trump more than Biden.

During the first debate in 2020, Trump's constant interruptions were mentioned at the time as having alienated some voters — and drew more attention to Trump rather than Biden.

In 2024, the tables were turned, and the main topic of conversation from the first debate was Biden and his performance. Trump's inability to interrupt Biden placed focus on the president's answers and performance, with all major outlets leading with that for debate aftermath coverage Friday.

Another factor of the debate which may have hurt Biden was the start time for the debate – 9 p.m. EDT.

While the debate started at the same time as the State of the Union, where Biden's performance reportedly reassured Democrats of the president's ability, he has rarely held events past 8 p.m. during his time in the White House — much less a debate.

Minutes into the debate, Biden sounded hoarse — his campaign claims he had a cold — and stumbled by suggesting he " beat Medicare ." As the debate went on, the president made other gaffes and sounded tired.

Debates have traditionally been held at 9 p.m. EDT to allow viewers on the West Coast to watch the event after getting home from a traditional 9 a.m.-5 p.m. job.

One of the chief requests from both the Biden and Trump campaigns was for the debates to be held earlier than usual. In the May letter outlining their requests, the Biden campaign suggested June and September debates. The campaign rejected the Commission's schedule because they argued it should be held before early voting starts.

"The Commission’s schedule has debates that begin after the American people have a chance to cast their vote early, and doesn’t conclude until after tens of millions of Americans will have already voted," Biden campaign Chairwoman Jen O’Malley Dillon said in the letter.

"The Commission’s failure, yet again, to schedule debates that will be meaningful to all voters, not just those who cast their ballots late in the fall or on Election Day, underscores the serious limitations of its outdated approach," she added.

But with one debate done and the next head-to-head contest between the nominees months away, each man is stuck with the impression he made on the public. Trump's staid demeanor and discipline could tell voters who don't tune into his rallies or follow him on social media that he is capable of being a steady hand at the wheel of the country.

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Biden, on the other hand, will have to prove, once again, that his age and mental fitness are everything his surrogates claim it to be.

Biden's campaign has reportedly said it still plans to participate in the Sept. 10 debate hosted by ABC News.