Michigan reacts to presidential debate

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Some Democrats are nervous after President Biden’s showing at Thursday night’s debate and there’s talk about trying to replace him on the ballot.

Democrats say they wanted to see strength from President Biden, but Biden appeared to struggle with his delivery, appearing to have a raspy voice and stumbling over some of his words. After this performance, even members of his own party worry that—at his age—he might not be up to the task of leading the country for another term.

6 News spoke with one of the nation’s top Democrats, Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, who attributed his “slow start” to battling a sore throat.

She says that Biden should not be replaced because his policies are what Michigan needs.

“I think that what he was talking about resonates with people in Michigan, lowering prescription drug costs, more jobs, making sure that we’re tackling the climate crisis which is hitting us right over the head in terms of all of this severe weather,” said Stabenow. “It’s very very serious and it’s not gonna get better if we don’t have a clean energy strategy—he gets up every day caring about Michigan and unfortunately, the other guy gets up caring about himself.”

Republicans, however, were critical of Biden’s performance.

Pete Hoekstra, Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, gave a statement to our media partners WXYZ:

President Biden provided no defense for what’s happening to people every day. Inflation, what’s happening on the border, the disaster that we find ourselves in overseas.

Chairman Hoekstra’s statement to WXYZ, June 28, 2023

Both Michigan and national polls have shown the two candidates closely matched. This is the first of two scheduled debates before the election in November.

The next debate is set to Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m., hosted by ABC.

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