Biden weathers Trump firestorm in first debate

President Trump blistered Democratic opponent Joe Biden with a barrage of insults — trying to bully him off the stage — but Biden seemed to weather the attacks in a raucous first debate showdown.

“Don’t ever use the word smart with me. There’s nothing smart about you,” Trump told the former vice president in one of the sharpest exchanges.

“Donald, would you be quiet for a minute,” Biden said.

It was just one of numerous back and forths and Biden and Trump went toe to toe — socially distanced — for the first time.

Trump’s strategy seemed to be to try and knock Biden off his game and force him into early gaffes, but Biden — famous for misspeaking — held his own for the most part, though he risked looking petty at times.

“You are the worst president America has ever had, c’mon,” Biden said.

The firing started almost immediately over Trump’s Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett.

“We won the election and we have the right to do it,” Trump said.

The president tried repeatedly to tie Biden to socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders and the left wing of the Democratic party.

“My party is me I am the Democratic party right now,” Biden shot back.

Trump even took on debate moderator Chris Wallace — interruputing Wallace as he tried to ask a question.

“Mr. President I’m the moderator of this debate and I would like you to let me ask my question,” Wallace sniffed.

“I guess I’m debating you not him but I’m not surprised,” Trump said.

“Folks, do you have any idea what this clown is doing,” Biden said during another exchange. “Will you shut up, man.”

Somehow U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren even made it into the debate when Trump questioned whether Biden would have won the Democratic nomination “if Pocahontas would have left (the race) two days earlier.”

Biden later dodged a question about whether he supports packing the Supreme Court with extra justices. It was not a good look.

The stakes were huge for both candidates Tuesday night but Biden, because he’s in the lead, had the most to lose.

Trump, his campaign and his supporters have tried to portray Biden as old, bumbling and losing some of his mental faculties.

It’s a risky strategy because it could backfire if Biden performs better than expected.

Close to 100 million people were expected to be watching the debate, making it the most watched presidential debate in history.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/348xFPb