Biden started out coherent in his abortion answer, and then lost the plot.
Trump’s cavalier attitude about how the states are deciding abortion — referencing Ohio’s referendum, which has expanded abortion access, for example — doesn’t bespeak a great pro-life commitment. “Follow your heart” — is that you, Anthony Kennedy?
Biden’s completely blank, vaguely sad facial expression while Trump is speaking is going to spawn countless embarrassing memes.
Trump on abortion exceptions for rape and incest: “Follow your heart, but, you have to get elected, also.”
When not speaking Biden looks blank and confused.
So far Trump, smartly, is not getting in the way of his opponent making a mistake. Biden looks lost, and Trump is staying on his message rather than trying to dunk on Biden’s mental decline.
Dana Bash: “This morning, the Court ruled” on the Idaho abortion case. No, it didn’t. It declined to rule on the case.
Trump: “The Supreme Court just approved the abortion pill.” Also not true. They dismissed the case on standing grounds.
Biden: “…we beat Medicare. (?)”
Trump: “He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death.”
This was an instance in which Biden trailed off into a full on senior moment and Trump responded with an ounce of wit. If the exchange had any substance to it, it would be very dangerous for Biden. That little exchange was a preview of the disaster the Biden campaign wants to avoid.
There it is, about twelve minutes past nine, a long, awkward pause from Biden, followed by, “…if we finally beat Medicare.”
“Thank you, President Biden,” Jake Tapper interjects.
Trump snaps that Biden did beat Medicare, “to death.” Biden has a rather blank look in his eyes.
Biden is assiduously avoiding saying whether he supports extending the individual tax cuts from the TCJA. Not extending them would be a significant middle-class tax hike. One of the things Democrats consistently lie about with little consequence is that TCJA was a tax cut only for the rich.