A CNN focus group of Democratic voters in a battleground state praised President Biden's performance in his first solo press conference, despite some notable gaffes during the event.
A CNN focus group of seven Democratic women in Kalamazoo, Michigan, offered generally positive reviews of President Biden's solo press conference on Thursday. Notably, five of the participants believed the press conference went "better than expected," while two said it was about what they expected. None of the women thought Biden performed worse than expected.
One of the women, who had previously been "undecided" about whether Biden should stay in the race, expressed relief after watching his performance. "I think he should stay in," she said, shifting her position.
Biden's Press Conference Receives Positive Reviews from CNN Focus Group of Democratic Voters
Another woman, who was also previously "undecided," said, "I think he's the logical choice," and threw her support behind Biden.
Despite the overall positive feedback, some participants expressed concerns about Biden's demeanor. One woman who had previously thought Biden should "pass the torch" still felt that way after the press conference. "I think he conveyed more defensiveness versus confidence," she said. "And I think we are craving to be able to be confident about the candidate that we carry into the November election."
Biden's Press Conference Receives Positive Reviews from CNN Focus Group of Democratic Voters
Another participant admitted that Biden's performance in the press conference could have been better but remained confident in his abilities. "Everybody has a bad day and I could see that he was sick," she said. "At the heart of it, he's a strong guy."
The focus group also highlighted Biden's strengths as a candidate. One participant said, "Joe Biden is very caring about people. He's very knowledgeable and experienced. And he's not just out for himself, that he really cares about the country."
Biden's Press Conference Receives Positive Reviews from CNN Focus Group of Democratic Voters
When asked if they would feel more confident with Kamala Harris or Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as the Democratic candidate, the participants remained steadfast in their support for Biden. "Right. Yeah," one woman responded. "I think Joe Biden did an excellent job… I've always been confident."
Despite the positive feedback from the focus group, Biden faces growing pressure from within his own party to step aside following his recent debate performance. Some Democrats believe that Biden's age and perceived lack of cognitive sharpness are liabilities in the race against President Trump.
Biden's Press Conference Receives Positive Reviews from CNN Focus Group of Democratic Voters
However, the support expressed by the CNN focus group suggests that Biden still enjoys significant support among Democratic voters in key battleground states like Michigan.
