Democratic lawmakers are expressing hesitancy and concern about the possibility of President Biden engaging in a debate with former President Trump, fearing that such an event could inadvertently elevate Trump’s standing as the likely GOP nominee. Despite Trump’s absence from every Republican presidential primary debate so far, he has expressed eagerness to debate Biden and even suggested the idea of having 10 debates during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt before Christmas.
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) voiced reservations about the prospect of a Biden-Trump debate, recalling his firsthand experience of Trump’s debates with Hillary Clinton. Durbin emphasized that such debates provide Trump with an opportunity to showcase his extremist views through outrageous statements and actions.
While Democratic lawmakers publicly highlight Biden’s record of accomplishment, privately, they seem to be banking on Trump’s potential downfall under the weight of over 90 felony charges. They also anticipate that Trump’s penchant for conflict and outlandish claims could turn off key demographics like women and swing voters. Simultaneously, Democrats acknowledge that the public’s perception of Biden’s age, given that he is 81 years old, remains a significant political liability.
Although Democrats believe Biden won the two debates against Trump in 2020, they are wary of a potential rematch where Trump, who turned 77 in June, might surpass expectations. Democrats fear that even if Trump merely exceeds low expectations on the debate stage, it could be perceived as a win, similar to former President George W. Bush’s success in his first debate against then-Vice President Al Gore in the 2000 presidential campaign.
The primary concern among Democrats is that putting Trump on the same stage as Biden and granting him equal time before a national audience might legitimize a candidate who regularly makes incendiary remarks and continues to claim the 2020 election was stolen. Trump’s recent declaration that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country” has further heightened concerns about his rhetoric.
Some Democrats argue that Trump should not even appear on the ballot due to potential violations of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits individuals who engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the country from holding federal office. While Democratic senators acknowledge that the decision to debate Trump ultimately rests with Biden and his campaign team, some argue that Biden does not need to feel compelled to engage in a debate with Trump. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a close Biden ally, referred to Trump’s comments about immigrants as “hateful, fascist remarks” and questioned the need to dignify Trump as a candidate by sharing a debate stage with him. Coons emphasized that Trump has refused to debate any of his Republican primary opponents, further undermining the case for dignifying him with a debate against Biden.
