Politics

Biden’s odds of re-election plummet after dismal debate performance, betting markets show 

President Biden tanked his odds of serving a second term in the White House Thursday after his poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump, according to data from political betting markets. 

The 81-year-old president’s chances of re-election plummeted 15 points in the aftermath of the CNN debate, one betting website, PredictIt.org, showed. 

The site, which allows users to buy stock in a candidate’s chances of winning the November race, showed Biden at 48 cents per share — the equivalent of a 48% chance of victory — prior to the debate and at only 33 cents per share afterward.  

President Biden chances of re-election plummeted 15 points in the aftermath of the CNN debate.
President Biden’s chances of re-election plummeted 15 points in the aftermath of the CNN debate. Elijah Nouvelage/UPI/Shutterstock

Meanwhile, Trump’s stock on PredictIt peaked at 61 cents per share in the early moments of the debate before settling at 58 cents after. The 78-year-old came into the debate with a 53% shot at the White House, according to the website’s data. 

On another betting website, BetOnline.ag, Trump started the debate as a -150 favorite and improved to -175 when the dust settled. 

Biden, who started the night as a +130 underdog, saw his odds fall to +300 (or 3/1) after the debate, according to BetOnline. 

The company noted that it also saw numerous wagers placed throughout the debate on possible alternative Democratic candidates.  

Biden, who started the night as a +130 underdog, saw his odds fall to +300 (or 3/1) after the debate
Biden, who started the night as a +130 underdog, saw his odds fall to +300 (or 3/1) after the debate. PredictIt.org

Follow the latest on Trump and Biden’s 2024 debate:


“We just kept taking bets over and over again on Gavin Newsom and Michelle Obama,” BetOnline political oddsmaker Paul Krishnamurty said in a statement. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s odds improved from 25/1 pre-debate to 7/1 post-debate and former first lady Michelle Obama’s odds jumped from 22/1 to 16/1, according to BetOnline.

Newsom and Obama have both repeatedly claimed to have no interest in running for the White House this cycle.