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ATLANTA—The CNN Presidential Debate “spin room” featured a parade of possible VP picks and many other Republicans who touted former President Donald Trump’s performance onstage. But only a few Democrats were present to defend President Joe Biden following the candidates’ debate on June 27. About 800 news reporters scrambled for in-person interviews with the men’s surrogates at Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion. That site is adjacent to the CNN studio where the two candidates met. The debate itself was “completely closed to press,” the network said in an email to reporters. However, CNN permitted a couple dozen photographers, including one from The Epoch Times, to briefly take photographs of the candidates onstage. Because the network allowed no audience, the men’s best zingers and worst gaffes occurred in a vacuum, producing only awkward silence rather than enthusiastic cheering or jeering. That was just one of many ways that this presidential debate stands out. It marked the first time in U.S. politics that a former president confronted a sitting president in a televised debate. And, for the first time since 1988, this presidential debate was conducted without involvement from the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates. Further, no other presidential debate has been held this early in the election cycle, prior to either major party’s nominating convention. Right after the 90-minute program, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Ca.) showed up to give their view on President Biden’s performance. Reporters swarmed them. “I want to remind folks of one important thing … there’s one person in our country that has beaten Donald Trump. His name is Joe Biden,” Mr. Garcia said, expressing confidence in President Biden’s ability to win the Nov. 5 election. His comments were made in response to reporters asking about some Democrats becoming increasingly concerned over the 81-year-old president’s fitness for office following the debate. During the event, President Biden spoke with a raspy voice, sometimes cleared his throat, and at times stammered. The president after the debate told reporters he was suffering from “a sore throat.” Asked whether the public would believe that a cold was the reason for the debate performance, Mr. Garcia said, “Who cares?” He encouraged journalists to focus on “substance … not style.” “The president did what he needed to do tonight, which is being honest to the American people, and to be forceful in defending his record,” Mr. Garcia said, accusing President Trump of making false statements throughout the debate. California Gov. Gavin Newsom gave a strident defense of the president’s performance and called the “panic” among some Democrats both unhelpful and unnecessary. Following the debate, talk of replacing President Biden as the Democrats’ nominee at or before their convention in August began circulating. Chris LaCivita, a top Trump advisor and Republican National Committee leader said: “It was literally, I think, the most lopsided win in debate history and American politics.” He said that the incumbent’s performance was, at times, “tough to watch.” North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, one of the possible running mates for former President Trump, said, “This could be one of the most consequential presidential debates in history because of the contrast” between the two candidates. After the nation’s first televised presidential debate in 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, people said, “You could tell who won with the [TV] sound off.” He said the situation was similar in this debate. “If you had the sound off tonight, you knew who was in charge, who was strong, and who was weak,” Mr. Burgum said. Another potential VP, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), said he and the former president haven’t discussed who might become his running mate. Mr. Vance said the decision is tough and “I’m glad I don’t have to make it.” Other potential VPs who gave spin room interviews included Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), and Byron Donalds (R-Fla.); Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.); and Dr. Ben Carson, Trump’s former housing secretary. The former president previously had disclosed that Ohio businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate, was also in the running. Mr. Ramaswamy told reporters that the former president has not asked him to fulfill that role. That person will have “a remarkable ability to serve this country in taking that America First agenda even further,” Mr. Ramaswamy said. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) predicted that President Trump will see “a bump” in swing-state polls in the coming days. Shortly after the debate, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden attended a debate watch party for his supporters at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Atlanta. Attendees chanted “Four more years!” as the couple arrived
