After a confusing debate between Biden and Trump.. great disappointment among Democrats: 'I would love to replace him'

Julianna Deeley rocks her blonde hair and places her hands over her eyes. “Oh no, oh no,” she says. The debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump lasts barely ten minutes, and on screen Biden engages in his own debate about the economy and health care. He stutters, becomes silent, and then looks forward in fear and defeat for several minutes. Dilly also feels afraid. She doesn't dare look up for a moment. “It's very frustrating,” she says later. “Biden says all the right things about the issues voters care about, but he seems so weak,” he added.

In the basement of the Democratic headquarters in Lancaster, Dailey and forty others gathered to watch the first presidential debate of this election. There are soft drinks, water and sweets. Red, blue and white M&M's. And there is optimism. Lancaster is a dark red constituency that is slowly turning purple. Local candidates and volunteers don't believe Trump can be defeated here, but they feel there is an opportunity to catch up with Republicans further. It is up to them to generate enthusiasm for Biden in the crucial state of Pennsylvania. Much depends on this discussion.

Earlier, Dailey, 40, spoke with Jan Schaefer, 65. She wears a gray T-shirt with a detergent-like logo on it, but the word “VOTE” is written on it. “Removes stubborn orange stains” is written underneath — a reference to the former president’s face. They discuss how the United States is stuck again — because that’s how it feels — with the same candidates it was four years ago. No one here gave a dime to Trump, 78, a few years ago after his supporters stormed the Capitol. Biden, 81, has promised to be a temporary pope who will quickly make way for a new generation of politicians.

Juliana: “He's a white man with an ego and he thinks…”

Jane: “Yes, how are we going to get rid of this terrible man? Biden is trying to protect us.”

Juliana: “I was talking about Biden.” Silence. Sigh. “I really hope we have an energetic and exciting candidate. He's a lot older.”

Jan: “He really looks like he's having a hard time. Could he have Parkinson's?”

Before the basement was packed, local party chairman Tom O’Brien, 70, listed all the reasons Biden would be a great president. But he also admitted that he sometimes fantasizes “that I’m going to be at the Democratic convention soon and Biden decides not to after all.” That Democrats could still put another candidate on the podium. “If the Republicans had a nominee other than Trump, it would be a close race in their favor,” he says. “But that’s also the opposite.”

These are Joe Biden supporters. The debate hasn't even started yet.

hoarse voice

Things go wrong immediately. In the afternoon, they tested whether the laptop was connected to the screen properly, but when Biden and Trump took the stage at the CNN studio in Atlanta, there was no sound in Lancaster. The debate continues for some time before the issue is resolved and Biden's hoarse voice can be heard here as well. And then it freezes. Frustration falls like a blanket over the warm basement filled with old campaign materials. It is as if the Democrats see their electoral chances melting away.

When Biden somehow regains his bearings during the debate, the atmosphere in Lancaster lights up. There’s applause when Biden defends abortion rights, promises to raise taxes on the rich, and confronts Trump about his recent conviction for trying to influence the 2016 election, but there’s only laughter about Trump. No matter how awful they find him, he’s entertaining.

Terrance Henderson, a local doctor and school administrator, said he was “a little nervous” in advance about whether Biden would survive. In retrospect, he called it “not a complete disaster.” Henderson believes Biden was able to make some good points. Does this convince independent voters? If they really delved into the content, yes. When they know that everything that comes out of Trump's mouth is a lie and that Biden is trustworthy and humane. But Trump seems sharper. “Some might consider that more important than preventing us from having a convicted felon in the White House.”

Henderson is one of the few black viewers tonight. There are a few Latinos. That’s somewhat representative: Lancaster is mostly white. There are a lot of gray hair in the group, but also people in their 20s with tattoos and a single nose ring. There are slightly more women than men. Many of them aren’t originally from here, but moved to Lancaster from New York, Washington and Baltimore, where Henderson grew up. They make this a more Democratic constituency.

Dejected – Depressed

On the table in front of Jan Schaefer is a piece of paper on which she gives the candidates points: 16 for Biden, zero for Trump. “I didn’t measure how much I agreed with them, but whether they answered the question. Trump never did that.” But her husband Tim comes to a different conclusion about the debate, in which the candidates couldn’t talk to each other. “I’ve never seen Trump so civil.” Jen angrily: “Yes, but nothing he says is true.”

Juliana Deeley felt depressed afterwards. Originally from Lancaster, she wanted to get away from “this village” and became a flight attendant to see the world. She returned for love, had two children and started studying psychology. “It’s all very small at the moment. I don’t want to give up on the party, but it’s very hard to get enthusiasm for this election. To campaign door to door.”

“I would love to replace Biden. Is that still possible?

However, she leaves with some Biden campaign signs. “The risk of losing this election is much greater than the fatigue I feel.”

To participate




Email the editor