by PW Perspective Editorial Board

Whether it was a discussion about “Black jobs,” discussions about golf scores, or a lack of fact-checking among the moderators, last night’s first presidential debate of 2024 left quite the impression upon those who watched.

The viewpoints before, during, and after the debate are widespread. In debates reminiscent of Kennedy-Nixon in 1960, Reagan-Mondale in 1984, or Obama-Romney in 2012, the overall analysis was the perception of an incumbent being ill prepared against his opponent. Afterwards, the tweets on X (formerly Twitter) and other comments were aligned along party lines. DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker released the following statement:

“This election is a choice between President Biden’s vision for America, where freedoms are protected and every Virginian has a fair shot, versus Donald Trump’s pledge to serve as a dictator on day one, give tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy, and attack women’s fundamental freedoms at every turn. 

Virginians see Trump for what he is: a convicted felon on an increasingly unhinged and dangerous quest for power, who fuels political violence and called the extremists who marched on Charlottesville ‘very fine people.’ We’re ready to stand together and defeat him, just like we have every time he’s run here.”

Republican Congressional District 7 candidate Derrick Anderson released the following tweet in response to the debate:

While the Friday morning talk shows will focus on questions such as “Should President Biden step aside,” the focus now shifts to the conventions next month, and who Republican candidate and convicted felon Donald Trump will choose as his running mate.