Victory at the points of democracy

They went out to the set looking for the moderate voter, hiding in front of his home television, afraid that an anti-fa demonstration or a gang of armed citizens would reprimand him in the street or that seven shots would be fired by mistake. Looking for the still undecided voter who is worried about the coronavirus and her family, and for the elderly third-generation immigrants who dare not come out amidst the smoke of tear gas and the fires of climate change. Joe Biden and Donald Trump appeared elegant and well-dressed, with discreet ties and a soft blue background decorated with light phrases describing the foundations of American democracy. The first debate between the candidates for the US presidential elections set a reassuring scene for America and its ordinary citizens. Naturally, Trump took it upon himself to shake it up. 

Although the president was aware that the debate had an unmistakable odour of establishment, he did not miss the opportunity to call his rival mediocre and to assert his anti-press discourse by confronting, with some correction, the moderator himself, and interrupting Biden from time to time to shatter his image as a fine conciliatory moderate. "His proposals are reminiscent of Bernie Sanders' socialist proposals," he told him, speaking of public health and Obamacare, which sounded like a somewhat outdated argument in a country where hundreds of people are infected and die every day as a result of the pandemic. "Your mismanagement of the coronavirus has led to thousands of deaths and has put the United States at the head of contagion and casualties," the Democratic candidate replied, making it clear that COVID-19 is a campaign issue and that millions of citizens will be paying the bill for its consequences in this election. 

But Joe Biden remained cautious, perhaps too cautious, and did not lose his conviction that a majority of Americans "know that the president lies in everything he says, and that he has no plan. Although he did not have the time or energy to explain what his plan was. Beyond having become a candid figure who smiles ironically, politically correct, at the insults of the magnate, whose accounts are not clear, and who is now a candidate for a second term as president, convinced that he is better than his rival.  

It is difficult to say who won. The "Trumpistas" claim that the president did so clearly. The Democratic media that Biden won, although without conviction. The swords are up and the ball is in the court of Kamala Harris and Vice President Pence who will meet in the second 'round'. It could be said that American democracy won by a landslide, because on the Ohio stage it was clear, quite rightly, that in the 2020 elections it is better to vote, even if without leaving home. It is better to participate in the process than to be confined to the house, while the avenues and the night are filled with agitation. This climate of increased engagement of the average citizen, if anything, could work in Biden's favour. If the Democratic candidate manages to stop being so politically correct and start being more energetic electorally.