As President Joe Biden prepares to face Donald Trump in the presidential debate on June 27 in Atlanta, nearly half of likely voters express concerns about his mental acuity and physical stamina.
A recent poll by J.L. Partners shows that 49% of respondents expect Biden to forget his location during the debate, highlighting significant voter apprehension regarding his fitness for the high-stakes event.
The poll surveyed 500 likely voters who also predict other challenges for Biden: 70% foresee him mixing up words, 41% anticipate him exiting the stage incorrectly, and 40% doubt his ability to stand without assistance.
Expectations for Trump include frequent interruptions, with 80% predicting he will cut off Biden, and 61% expecting rambling stories from the former president. Additionally, 54% foresee scenarios where Trump’s microphone might be cut off to manage his interventions.
Despite the concerns about Biden’s performance, the debate at CNN’s Atlanta studio—moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and notably held without a live audience at the request of Biden’s team—remains a critical moment for both candidates.
Biden’s campaign has also insisted on strict time limits for responses and the use of microphone cut-offs to manage overtimes and interruptions.
Trump, who recently turned 78, has been vocal about Biden’s perceived mental lapses, frequently mocking his rival at public events.
At a rally last month, Trump stated, “Biden doesn’t know he’s alive. When he’s finished his speech he can never find the stairs, and when he does it’s not a pretty picture. … We were respected more than our country was ever respected four years ago, and now we’re being laughed at.”
The narrative around Biden’s age and mental fitness isn’t new. Earlier this year, Biden was a focal point in a special counsel report concerning his handling of classified documents, where he was described as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”
As the debate approaches, the stakes are high, with only 39% of poll respondents favoring Biden as the likely winner, in stark contrast to the 50% who foresee a Trump victory.
This skepticism is echoed in Biden’s recent public appearances, including a notable episode at the G7 summit in Italy, where he seemed disoriented during a skydiving demonstration until Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni subtly guided him back.
These poll results and public incidents remind us of the growing concern among voters about Biden’s ability to effectively lead and communicate, particularly as he would be 86 by the end of a second term.