Biden's debate game was hobbled because he tried to say too much. 'Less is always better,' a speech coach says.
Gerald Herbert/AP
- Joe Biden's debate performance disappointed Democrats, and even he knows it.
- Voters have worried about Biden's age, which showed during the debate.
- Despite his age, simply slowing down and saying less would have helped, a speech coach told BI.
Even President Joe Biden knows his debate performance was off.
Voters and legislators have long been worried about Biden's age, nervous that he's slowing down and spitballing about replacement candidates because of it.
But slowing down and saying less might have actually helped him perform better during Thursday's debate, Carmie McCook, a DC-based public speaking coach, told Business Insider.
"Less is always better. Always. The more you throw out there, the more landmines you've got to step on. Stay focused," McCook said. "His team has to know if he has issues staying on target, you just drill, go back to the message… Don't let the other person sit in the driver's seat and dictate what you're going to say."
Viewers seemed to agree that former President Donald Trump won the debate, even though he also didn't articulate himself very well. Both candidates are hoping voters look past their obvious flaws.
McCook said Biden also takes time to express his thoughts in speech, due to his lifelong stutter, which didn't help his optics.
"I'm sure he was tired because they probably were drilling him, and he probably didn't feel well," McCook said. "He stutters, and I work with a lot of people with that same issue. I do know it takes time sometimes for you to formulate your word, and it does look like you're lost in thought because you're trying to figure out, 'Which tongue muscles can I use? Or what alternative word can I use?'"
Max Burns, a Democratic strategist, said on X that Biden needs to get out to rallies to "push back against the stiff and meandering image he portrayed on Thursday."
"Biden needs better (and frankly, less) prep in the future. He was clearly bogged down trying to recite long lists of data points instead of engaging more organically, like he did in 2020. That can be worked on, but it needs to start now," Burns posted on X.
McCook made similar points.
"Slow down," she said. "Take your time. Do not let the other person rattle you because that's what they're there to do. Stick to your top three to five points, and that is it."