Here we go:
President Biden responded to Donald Trump’s mocking of his mix-up of Trump and Vice President Harris.
“By the way: Yes, I know the difference,” Biden said on X once the debate ended. “One’s a prosecutor, and the other’s a felon.”
Unfortunately, we know how this will play in the media. WaPo’s Maeve Reston is probably right:
Biden was able to show the depth of his foreign policy knowledge and to demonstrate his command of national security issues. But those aren’t usually the issues that move voters. A lot of Democrats are just ready to move on — and exhausted by the strain of not knowing how this drama is going to play out. With Biden’s “Vice President Trump” mistake in the first few minutes, many may have the ammunition they need to make the break with Biden. They aren’t looking for the elder statesman anymore — they want someone who can invigorate and excite their party.
As is WaPo’s Ashley Parker:
In some ways, this news conference shows the near impossibility of the task Biden is facing. He’s giving real, nuanced, in-depth and largely clear answers on foreign policy. But post-debate, the headline will nonetheless likely be his flubs, including his response to the first question where he mixed up his vice president and the former president against whom he’s running. “Sisyphean” comes to mind.
Political reporters are little different than sportswriters and gossip columnists: It’s all about the winners and losers, it’s almost never about the policies and the differences in policy. Understanding policy requires intelligence and research, not access.