Bob Woodward slams Biden's debate performance as a 'political hydrogen bomb' for Democratic party

WASHINGTON, DC: Legendary journalist Bob Woodward minced no words in his assessment of President Joe Biden's performance in the first 2024 presidential debate against former President Donald Trump, calling it a "political hydrogen bomb" that could have devastating repercussions for the Democratic party.

Appearing on MSNBC with Ari Melber, Pulitzer-Watergate journalist Woodward, renowned for his investigative prowess and insights into presidential administrations, underscored the gravity of Biden's debacle.

"Biden's performance was so bad, so awful," he lamented. "As a reporter, there must be some explanation. What really happened? He was preparing for this a long time. He knew it was consequential, and then it was this bad."

Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities questioned following debate performance

During the 90-minute televised debate, President Biden frequently mumbled, trailed off mid-sentence, and struggled to articulate his points. Former President Trump seized the opportunity to mock Biden’s sometimes unintelligible statements

Drawing a vivid analogy to illustrate the unexpected nature of Biden's stumble, Woodward likened it to a proficient golfer suddenly shooting far below par.

"It's like a golfer who plays country club golf in the '90s, all of a sudden shoots 140. You wonder something went wrong. He broke his foot or his ankle," the veteran journalist speculated, emphasizing the need for investigative journalism to uncover the truth swiftly.

"I think the answer here is in reporting, in seeking very aggressively an explanation. We don't want it to come out in some book or memoir in a couple of years or a decade; we need to know now," asserted Woodward.

Calls mount for Biden to reconsider candidacy

Responding to queries about the political fallout and calls for Biden to reconsider his candidacy, the journalist acknowledged the gravity of the situation. "It's inevitable...I sat there and watched it and I could not believe it," Woodward admitted.

"I said not only is this a political hydrogen bomb for him and the Democratic Party... I think something happened. And if you look back at this, he held up for days working on this, preparing for it. He knew its significance. Somebody who is a practiced politician like Biden will internalize, rehearse lines. There must have been some of that, but he got thrown off his own game somehow."

Biden's 'megadisaster' debate demands immediate answers

Melber further contextualized public sentiment and reactions, quoting Steven Collins' analysis that while Biden may not be seen as unable to fulfill presidential duties, his ability to effectively communicate and lead had been severely compromised by the debate performance.

Woodward's insights were punctuated by a breaking editorial from 'The New York Times,' suggesting, 'To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Leave The Race.'

"The President appeared on Thursday night as the shadow of a great public servant, struggled to explain what he had accomplished, struggled to respond to Trump, struggled to hold Trump accountable," Melber read, adding, 'He struggled to make it to the end of a sentence."

As Melber questioned the timing and urgency of such calls, Woodward maintained a stance focused on uncovering the truth behind Biden's debate misstep.

"If a building blows up.. the story will be how did this happen? Why did it happen? Because this was a megadisaster. Megadisaster."