ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The first presidential debate took place at CNN's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia and to say the performance by President Joe Biden was poor could be a massive understatement.
In a debate that saw both Biden and Donald Trump routinely dodge questions, debate about their golf handicap (dead serious), and a whole lot of other moments that seem like perfect material for an Saturday Night Live skit, Biden's performance from the start of the presidential had immediate concerns, with the current president halting and seemed to lose his train of thought on multiple occasions.
The performance led to many Democrats raising legitimate concerns about Biden and if he is the right candidate to be the nominee for the Democratic Party in November's election.
"When the President walked out and his mouth, it didn't seem right to me," said Michael Kelley, a Democratic Strategist and host of 'Hancock and Kelley' on KMOX. "Then as he began to speak, I was ready to go to the restroom and throw up. This was the fear we all had for quite some time."
Kelley said that after the performance by Biden Thursday night in Atlanta, Georgia, he was pessimistic of Biden's chances to be the nominee of the Democratic Party when the Democratic National Convention takes place at United Center in Chicago in August.
"I think assuredly, Joe Biden will not be the Democratic nominee," said Kelley. "I don't know how he recovers from (Thursday) night and I think there's enough people who realize that the campaign that Biden is running is based on the detriment that Donald Trump causes the United States. If they truly believe that, we have to make a change."
John Hancock, a Republican strategist, agreed the performance was horrible and thinks the fire alarm is on internally for the Democratic Party.
"They got to choose whether to get out of the house or just burn up with it," said Hancock. "I think that really where we are here."
Kelley believes that if Biden doesn't end up being the Democratic nominee, he highlighted Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris and J.D. Pritzker as potential replacements, but he not quite in favor of Harris being the nominee.
"Kamala Harris has problems and I don't think she should be the candidate," said Kelley. "But rightfully so, she is the vice president and they have a positive record to run on. It's an issue that the Democrats are going to have to deal with."