‘Worst in American History’: Presidential debate has political experts wondering what’s next

CHARLOTTE ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — The highly anticipated showdown between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump left some Democrats wondering if Biden should bow out of the race.

At times, the 81-year-old looked confused, even losing his train of thought.

“Making sure that we’re able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I’ve been able to do with the, uh, with the COVID. Excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with, uh… look… if… we finally beat Medicare,” Biden said.

“Last night’s debate will go down as one of the worst in American history. Neither candidate did particularly well,” said Eric Heberlig, a political science professor at UNC Charlotte. He says discussions about whether or not Biden can be replaced at this moment in the race will face real challenges.

“The delegates to the Democratic National Convention, who the people who officially nominate the Democrat’s presidential candidate, have to vote the way that voters in their states, in their primary or caucus elections voted,” Heberlig said.

The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago Aug. 19-22 when those delegates officially cast their vote for the party’s presidential and vice-presidential nominees. Heberlig says an alternative candidate could only happen at this point if Biden chooses to drop out, releasing those delegates from their obligation to vote for him.

“Because of Biden’s obvious struggles, that means our attention today is on his struggles rather than the other things we could be critiquing about Trump’s issues in the debate last night as well,” Heberlig said.

Queen City News reached out to all democratic Congressional District Chairs in North Carolina, but we did not receive a response.

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