Each candidate had a clear goal going into the debate: Biden to convince the voters that he is fit to serve another term; Trump to put the January 6 insurrection and claims of stolen elections on the back burner while also appealing to independent voters.

During the faceoff, Trump battered his opponent with a flurry of personal attacks and apparently questionable claims, while Biden sometimes stuttered and struggled to collect his thoughts.

Although the Republicans were quick to call the debate a victory for Trump, voters and commentators on both sides of the aisle are left with little optimism for the upcoming elections in November.

The two oldest presidential candidates ever traded barbs on abortion, immigration, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, their handling of the economy, and even their golf games as they each sought to shake up what opinion polls show has been a virtually tied race for months.

Biden’s allies tried to put a brave face on the evening, and two White House officials said Biden had a cold.

But the president’s performance rattled his fellow Democrats and will likely deepen voter concerns that the 81-year-old is too old to serve another four-year term.

One top Biden donor, who did not want to be identified while criticizing the president, called his performance “disqualifying” and said he expected a fresh round of calls for him to step aside ahead of the party’s national convention in August.

Overall, 67% of debate watchers think that Trump won the faceoff, while 33% believe Biden performed better, a CNN flash poll shows.

The second and final debate in this year’s campaign is scheduled for September.