A newly leaked memo revealed that former President Joe Biden's advisers aimed for his now-infamous debate with President Donald Trump to reach the "widest audience possible."
The six-page memo, which was dated April 15, 2024, two months ahead Biden's first and only presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle, included bold writing of "YOU" and "YOUR" directions for the then-president.
“By holding the first debate in the spring, YOU will be able to reach the widest audience possible, before we are deep in the summer months with the conventions, Olympics, and family vacations taking precedence,” the memo obtained by Politico states.
“In addition, the earlier YOU are able to debate the better, so that the American people can see YOU standing next to Trump and showing the strength of YOUR leadership, compared to Trump’s weakness and chaos,” the memo continued.
Biden's horrendous performance during the June 27 debate eventually led to his decision to end his re-election campaign weeks later. The memo, which is also included in the upcoming book 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America by journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf, was sent to Biden days after Trump's team publicly taunted him to have a debate "anytime, anywhere, anyplace."
“Your senior advisors, including Ron and Cedric, continue to believe it is important to move forward with a plan that supports your participation in debates as early as possible," the memo to Biden states, likely referring to Biden's former chief of staff and confidant, Ron Klain, and campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond.
“YOUR Senior Advisors think strategically holding these debates in the fall, after many of the battleground states have already begun their early voting process and voter registration deadlines have passed is too late,” the memo added, referencing the mail-in ballot start dates in Wisconsin and North Carolina beginning early.
Biden's team suggesting having the debate ahead of the Democratic National Convention, specifically on June 26 or June 27, as it was close in proximity to Supreme Court decisions, including the anniversary of the Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade two years prior.