The only person happier than Donald Trump after tonight’s presidential debate is Vice President Kamala Harris. Given the disastrous performance by President Biden, it would be political malpractice of the highest order not to replace him at the top of the Democratic ticket.

From the very start when he crept out uncertainly onto the stage, Biden was awful. The two-shot from CNN was brutal when Trump spoke. Biden was slumped, slack-jawed and stunned. His voice was hoarse and trembling. If the goal of an early debate and the bad rules by the Biden campaign was to test their candidate with an eye toward replacing him, then it was mission accomplished.

Without the crowd to push him along and the ability to interrupt, the restrictions of the night worked to Trump’s advantage. The former president had a great rejoinder when he said Biden cannot claim credit for the “bounce-back” recovery on COVID. Not surprisingly, Trump had the better rhetoric, while Biden’s “malarkey” line is as old and tired as him.

Going into the debate, the stakes were high for both sides; both candidates are old and unpopular, with raised serious questions about their mental fitness. The race, frozen for months, had the best possibility to move with this debate. The most risk was for Biden. His numbers on age and mental fitness are terrible and his issue........

© The Hill