“It is okay for us to change our minds,” noted 44-year-old Catherine Emmanuelle before outlining her views. She noted her admiration of Joe Biden’s 17-minute speech as being an impressive “presidential litmus test”. “But if something changes quickly over three days or a week or three weeks,” Catherine Emmanuelle told BBC News. She expressed appreciation for President Biden’s performance but wasn’t afraid of having tough conversations about its future candidacy. Mr Biden is under immense scrutiny after last week’s embarrassing debate performance which featured hoarse voiced and numerous moments where his train of thought became lost – prompting speculation over his mental capacity in November’s general election against Donald Trump who will turn 78 next month. On Friday’s rally held here, in this reliably Democratic town in an important swing state, Vice President Biden showed how popular he remains among many parts of America. Yet amongst a raucous crowd that endured many speakers as well as an hour’s delay from its scheduled starting time there was low-grade anxiety pervading proceedings. “I am concerned about his ability to defeat Donald Trump,” stated Thomas Leffler, 33-year-old health researcher. As Leffler gets older he sees it becoming an issue but plans on voting blue no matter the cost – an allusion to Democratic party colours such as blue. Thomas Leffler was among several hundred who came out to see President Biden. Mr Leffler noted that electing an alternative candidate might bring unexpected rewards. “Through some open process, we can reinvigorate people, show that there’s another path than bowing down to Donald Trump,” Biden suggested. This year both President Barack Obama and Donald Trump secured enough delegates from their party’s caucuses to become their presumptive presidential nominees; Democrats will officially nominate one candidate at their Democratic National Convention from 19-22 August in Chicago. On Friday Mr Biden made clear his desire to remain competitive by telling his crowd: “I will run and win again!” Some of the loudest cheers at Friday’s rally came when President Trump directly targeted former President Obama with comments like, ‘Trump is not only guilty but is an individual crime wave.” For many who attended, this prospect of another Trump presidency provided much-needed inspiration and drive. “During the debate, Donald Trump told many lies,” stated Greg Hovel. “How is that any worse than what Biden has done?” Greg Hovel said he was dismayed at recent Supreme Court decisions and Donald Trump’s rhetoric, while believing the country to be in an “excellent condition”. Mr. Hovel stated he did not give Joe Biden enough credit for his economic and pandemic recovery policies. “Within six weeks, the Democratic Party must decide” whether to retain Joe Biden as their presidential nominee or select someone new, said President Donald Trump. While Friday night’s performance by Mr Biden further underpinned what the president believes: that Biden can win this year. With additional reporting by Jonathan Csapo
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