WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is under a swarm of scrutiny for his debate against former President Donald Trump Thursday night. Republicans from Wisconsin and around the country were critical of how the 81-year-old Biden did.
“Donald Trump last night, he had a commanding presence of the debate,” said Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien. “And Joe Biden had a disastrous one.”
“The President looked confused,” said Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau. “Certainly didn't have a grasp, I think, on kind of the whole situation.”
“This election may have been decided last night, because it was clear who was the winner,” said Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua. “And President Trump was showing strength.”
Biden, who held a campaign rally Friday in North Carolina, acknowledged his poor performance and snubbed Trump for the many falsehoods he spewed during the debate.
"I don't debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth,” Biden said, followed by a roaring applause.
Some Wisconsin Democrats sidestepped questions about whether Biden should no longer be the party’s nominee.
In a statement, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, defended Biden’s record, saying he lowered prescription drug prices and signed laws creating jobs and infrastructure.
When asked if Democrats should have an open convention in August to pick a new nominee, the chair of the Democratic party of Wisconsin, Ben Wikler, said, “Voters are going to be and are currently very fired up to defeat Donald Trump, and President Biden's our nominee.”
Congressman Mark Pocan, D-Madison, criticized Trump for the “lies, misinformation, and disinformation.”
“The Biden Administration and Democrats got big things done last session and will again after the November elections,” he said in a statement. “Our agenda is much better for American people. The GOP agenda takes away freedoms and only benefits the wealthiest Americans.”
“I think, is a reasonable strategy for Democratic lawmakers to try to pivot to the policy achievements of the Biden administration,” said Anthony Chergosky, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. “But voters are concerned about Biden's age, and at some point, Democratic lawmakers and Democratic candidates are going to have to address that head on.”
Asked if Senator Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., believes Biden should step down as the Democrat’s nominee, her campaign spokesman responded, “Tammy Baldwin is running her own race for the people of Wisconsin.”
The most recent Marquette Law School poll showed Biden and Trump tied, each getting 50% of the vote among registered voters in Wisconsin.