NewsNation) — The first presidential debate between incumbent Joe Biden, a Democrat, and his predecessor, GOP Donald Trump, captured the nation’s attention Thursday, with many criticizing both candidates’ performance.
As a result, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign is reporting increased momentum, despite the fact that he didn’t make the debate stage, per qualifications set by host CNN.
Instead, Kennedy answered the same questions as Biden and Trump from a studio in Los Angeles with a live audience of more than 200 people that he also streamed on X and his website. The event had more than 9 million viewers.
Debate Fallout
According to Kennedy’s campaign, staffers were juggling numerous interview requests on Friday, and a spokesperson tells NewsNation they are firming up his campaign stops for the next few weeks as they work to get on more state ballots.
In a news release, Kennedy’s campaign declared the independent the “winner” of the debate. A CNN flash poll of those who watched the debate on their channel found that 67% of those surveyed said Trump won compared to 33% who declared Biden was victorious.
At CNN’s debate, Biden and Trump traded barbs over the other’s policies, branding each other “liars.” While Trump avoided questions about the Jan. 6 Capitol riots and whether he’d accept the outcome of the 2024 election, Biden, hoarse with a cold, stumbled repeatedly throughout the debate, tripping over his words.
Former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner called Biden’s debate performance Democratic Party malpractice, and former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker called it pathetic. Speaking at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday, Biden acknowledged that he doesn’t “debate as well as I used to,” adding, “I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done.”
Trump, on the other hand, faced backlash for “lying the whole time” from lawmakers like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said at the debate, “we saw integrity on one side and dishonesty on the other” and that the former president is a “fool,” according to a journalist for CBS.
RFK Jr. talks about border, CNN snub on livestream
Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in his real-time response to the first presidential debate, talked about several issues, including abortion, immigration and foreign affairs.
In his opening statement, he addressed being left out of the CNN debate, calling it “troubling” and an example of why “Americans believe the system is rigged against them.”
When it comes to abortion and the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, Kennedy said he believes abortion should be the woman’s choice, with the state only intervening when a fetus reaches viability. Kennedy, who said that he does not support late-term procedures, also said “every abortion is a tragedy,” pledging to out money into child care to prevent them.
On immigration, Kennedy aligned with Trump on many topics, blaming Biden and Democrats for migrants crossing into the country. The U.S.-Mexico border must be sealed, Kennedy said.
Kennedy also slammed Biden for the Ukraine war, saying the president just wanted to “weaken Russia.”
Meanwhile, regarding the Middle East, Kennedy said the U.S. has to support Israel. Although he said “heartbroken” over “bloodshed in Gaza,” the presidential hopeful said, “Israel is in an existential battle.”
NewsNation’s Safia Samee Ali and Isabelle Charboneau contributed to this report.