Connecticut experts weigh in on presidential debate

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Local political experts are weighing in on President Joe Biden’s debate performance Thursday night.

“Exasperation, is this the best we can do?” said John McKinney, who used to be the top Republican in the Connecticut Senate. “Joe Biden’s only goal was show America that he’s up to the task. I think sadly, for man who’s spent a great life in public service, he looks like he’s feeble and old and not up to the job.”

Former Democratic state House speaker Joe Aresimowicz put it a little differently.

“I was concerned from the moment he walked out on the stage,” Aresimowicz said. “The problem is the perception out there is he’s not mentally there to be the president.”

Scott McClean, a political science professor at Quinnipiac University, said that “Joe Biden didn’t show up to the debate.” McClean said that Donald Trump also had a poor performance.

“Donald Trump talked a lot, said mean things, wasn’t very accurate in his facts,” he said.

McClean said that was expected, however, Biden’s poor performance was not. The question is, what happens now?

“There’s always a brokered convention,” Aresimowicz said. “The delegates can move around. It depends what Joe Biden does in the next few weeks.”

McClean said that Democrats have made decisions to officially nominate Biden to their convention through Zoom.

“So, there won’t be much of a chance to have a brokered convention unless all of those decisions are undone,” McClean said.

There is a second presidential debate scheduled for Sept. 10, but McClean doesn’t think that will happen. He thinks there’s no upside for Trump in case Biden does better, and there’s a lot of risk to the Biden campaign if he does not do better.

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