Biden’s Debate Rattles Even the Most Faithful Democrats

Mary Riche, 76, is a devoted member of the Democratic Party faithful. She isn’t an elected politician or a highly paid party operative, but a loyal part of the rank and file who has supported state and national Democrats since the 1970s, hosted fund-raisers in her Iowa home and enthusiastically knocked on doors for candidates.

On Thursday night during the first presidential debate of the campaign, she was watching television and texting with her “posse,” a close circle of Democratic friends.

“Finally, I just posted the crying emoji,” she said in a coffee shop in Des Moines on Friday. “I was embarrassed that my candidate was appearing as if he was incoherent. It was very difficult, painful, to watch.”

Millions of Americans watched the debate between President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump and saw a faltering performance by Mr. Biden, who appeared aged and frail, spoke with a soft, raspy voice that his aides attributed to a cold, and at times stumbled or trailed off during his answers.

The most devoted, longstanding members of the Democratic Party were perhaps the most stunned and shaken. In dozens of interviews, Democrats across the country who volunteer or work on the local or state level said they were unnerved — or worse — by Mr. Biden’s debate performance.

For these party faithful — whose role it is to urge neighbors to vote, to knock doors and to work hours at phone banks — the reactions ranged from faint defenses to complete despair. Many said they felt frustrated at the national Democratic Party for pushing Mr. Biden, 81, as the nominee without scrutinizing or divulging his limits. Others said they would forge ahead with campaigning for Mr. Biden, since they had no interest in throwing their support to Mr. Trump.