President Biden has a litany of vulnerabilities — including a short temper and slowing cognition — that can be exploited by Donald Trump in their first debate on June 27, according to rivals who have faced off against Biden.
“What I tried to do was to get him upset. He has a short fuse. And that was our whole strategy,” said John M. Burris, a former majority leader of the Delaware House of Representatives who lost to Biden in his 1984 US Senate campaign.
In December 2019, during the Democratic primaries, Biden’s infamous temper flared when a voter in Iowa asked him about his son Hunter Biden’s work in Ukraine. The then-presidential candidate called the man a “damn liar” and later called him “fat” and challenged him to do pushups.
“Somebody like Trump coming at you can really make Joe very mad and upset,” added Burris, 78.
Despite the loss, Burris stayed chummy with Biden, 81, who has served in elected office for more than 50 years and in that time has debated opponents in presidential and vice presidential debates and no fewer than seven successful Delaware Senate elections.
The two golfed together regularly before Biden was elected vice president. Burris’ stepson went to school with Hunter and Beau at Archmere Academy.
He said he feared for his friend in the looming contest — and wished he was not running.
“I don’t want Joe to run, because I care about him. I want him to go home and enjoy his legacy rather than take four more years. It’s just such a draining job,” Burris said. “He is the same guy, but not quite as quick.
“It’s not going to be very pleasant to watch,” Burris sighed. “I think Trump is going to try and make Joe look old, and not be able to handle the facts and pressures.”
In 1990, Biden faced off against M. Jane Brady, a former prosecutor and later Delaware’s attorney general. Biden beat her with more than 60% of the vote. She thinks Biden has gone downhill.
“I watched a piece of the debate he had with Trump four years ago and you don’t even see the same person you had four years ago. That’s pretty clear to people,” Brady said.
“If I were debating him today I would be patient and allow him to speak,” she said. “I think he will find it difficult to provide clarity to the issues he is talking about.”
Next week’s debate is widely seen as make or break moment for both campaigns.
The event, hosted by CNN, will have commercial breaks, Robert F. Kennedy won’t be there, and Trump will have the last word on stage.
