Nolan Finley: Biden lost more than the debate to a predictable Trump

The energetic, focused Joe Biden who showed up at the State of the Union address in March to push back against depictions of him as a doddering old man was not the Joe Biden who walked on to the debate stage in Atlanta Thursday night hoping to again reassure voters he has the acuity and endurance to serve four more years as president.

Instead, what Americans saw was a weak and struggling old man.

Biden, who spent a full week prepping for the face-off, could barely raise his voice above a raspy whisper, a sharp contrast to the high-volume anger he brought to the March address.

His strategy was to attack former President Donald Trump nonstop, but he lacked the vigor and vehemence to pull it off. He could barely muster an effective sneer, and too often, the camera caught him with his mouth hanging open. He was not nimble enough to pivot from the talking points that had been drilled into his head to exploit the many opportunities Trump gave him to deliver a haymaker.

Given the chance to present his vision on the critical issues that will decide this election and reassure the country that he is still in command, Biden fumbled and mumbled through repeated rehearsed insults and accusations aimed at his opponent.

Had anyone but Trump been next to him on the Atlanta stage, this reelection campaign would be over for Biden. Democrats would be scrambling to find a replacement before they get to their August convention in Chicago. But Trump was Trump. He was no more prepared for this debate than he was four years ago when he met Biden for the first face-off of the 2020 election and got pummelled. He was lucky Biden was in no shape to pummel anyone.

When he had a chance to defend his record on issues such as immigration and the economy, Trump defaulted to his usual hyperbole and egomania. Think along the lines of, "When I pass gas, everyone says it's the greatest thing they've ever smelled." It was that absurd.

Trump could have scored with solid facts about his accomplishments and Biden's failures; instead, he rambled. He missed the opportunity to look more presidential than the feeble incumbent.

The nation was failed by this debacle. There were so many distortions and outright lies coming from that stage fact-checkers might as well give five pinocchios to the entire performance. It was unquestionably the worst debate in presidential history. It was a long night of "I'm the best, he's the worst" "No he's the worst, I'm the best" and little else.

In typical geezer fashion, they even sparred over their golf handicap. That must have the Russians shaking in their boots.

The entire 90 minutes were spent convincing voters that these two men are unfit for office. It worked.

It's no wonder 25% of Americans say they won't vote for either one and three-quarters wished they had another choice.

But everyone knew who Trump was coming into the debate. He didn't disappoint. The big question was whether Biden could rise to the moment. He didn't. To steal a phrase Biden used incessantly, "the idea" that Joe Biden can do this very hard job for another four years is preposterous.

Trump didn't win the debate, but Biden lost it.