Reflections on the US presidential campaign

US President Joe Biden has admitted his performance at the first of two debates with former president Donald Trump was, to put it kindly, underwhelming and blamed it on a cold he had contracted and on exhaustion after that day's work and on a quick transatlantic travel he made shortly before to commemorate the heroism of American soldiers on D-Day in Normandy. Even a much younger fellow could not have performed any better under the circumstances. Taking medications would have only made a cold sufferer's condition worse for the debate since those medications are meant to force the body to take a rest. It would not be unusual for one on cold medication to be out of sorts, even groggy. What the Biden campaign should have done was to arrange a postponement of the debate for a few days. Surely, this would not be unreasonable since anyway, that first debate had been scheduled much earlier in the campaign period than in previous election years.

It was unfortunate that Biden decided to go ahead notwithstanding, because the agreed-upon debate rules did not suit a performer who was tired and had a cold. Unlike before, there was no audience to pump up his adrenalin and rouse him to his normal lively self. The debaters were also not allowed to carry notes which could have helped prevent his memory or attention from meandering. The notes could have been just reminders to keep it short and direct to the point.