EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Political party leaders in El Paso are reacting to concerns raised during the first presidential debate, particularly about President Joe Biden’s performance and age.
“We know the performance was a little bit lackluster, understandably so. It seems the president had a cold,” said Michael Apodaca, chairman of the El Paso County Democratic Party.
Biden’s performance in the debate has raised new concerns within the party, with critics questioning whether he is fit to lead the country for another term given his age.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has come under fire for allegedly making misleading statements and avoiding direct questions. The chairman of the El Paso County Republican Party said Trump has a tendency to “exaggerate,” but that doesn’t undermine his credibility with voters.
“The amount of hyperbole is in stark contrast to what Biden said: No one has died in the military while I was in office, which is a total lie. And when he said the inflation he had when he took office was terrible, that’s another little lie that doesn’t deny the numbers exist,” said Jorge Gonzalez, chairman of the El Paso County Republican Party.
At the local level, Apodaca said his team will try to remind voters what Biden has accomplished over the past four years and provide the bigger picture.
“It’s not just an 81-year-old man on the ballot. There’s an education issue. There’s a health care issue. There’s a women’s choice issue,” Apodaca said.
Gonzalez said the party believes Trump doesn’t need any help returning to the Oval Office.
“I believe Trump is on the right track. I think he’s right in mentioning illegal immigration that is affecting the country. He’s doing what it takes to get into the minds of people who can’t make up their minds,” Gonzalez said.
Both Biden and Trump are their parties’ presumptive nominees, but their names will officially appear on the November ballot after the Democratic and Republican national conventions later this summer.
The second presidential debate is scheduled for September.
