It was a little Dodge City as ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos hammered President Joe Biden on his cognitive ability and his political viability.
Stephanopoulos opened by announcing the 22-minute interview was without edits, without cuts. (Anyone believing ABC would risk its reputation by trying to “help” the President through editing should have their head examined.)
Has Biden had his examined, Stephanopoulos asked, framing his question as interest in whether the President had a cognitive test.
Biden dodged, saying he did have a physical test. When the anchor repeated the question, Biden said every day he is on the job is a cognitive test.
Well, he was sharp enough to duck the question.
It was also a dodge when he replied “in terms of success, yes,” when Stephanopoulos asked if he was the same today as four years ago.
Biden appeared relaxed, tan and fit, wearing a sport coat and tieless, speaking softly with a slight rasp.
It was drastically different from Debate Biden but also different from Rally Biden, when he addressed supporters in Madison, Wisc., with a booming voice, high energy and radiant smiles.
Biden denied he is making more mental lapses now. He denied he is more frail. He denied or discounted polls that show he is trailing Trump. As an illustration of how on top of things he is, he said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, but seemed to forget the name of the just-elected prime minister of the United Kingdom.
The entire 22 minutes focused on Biden’s mental and political fitness.
Stephanopoulos hammered him on reports of donors and other Democrats deserting him, and Biden responded that those who matter have not. Couldn’t anyone get him not to run? Maybe if the good lord almighty came down, Biden joked.
He also insisted that he could beat Trump, but declined to answer if any other Democrat could.
He did well, he appeared presidential, he probably brought relief to the people who are in his corner.
Did he change the minds of people who hate him, or who have deep qualms?
Probably not.
He will have to do a lot more, if he is able, to make voters forget the debate fiasco.
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