Biden, Gabbard suffer hits to favorability after debate

[karynnj]

4. It is very hard to assign the cause of the decreases

For Gabbard, it could be her answer on Syria, her nasty response to HRC or the HRC comment, largely assumed to reference her.

As to Biden, it might be his son's interview that was broadcast that same day. I would have assumed that Joe Biden's response that as President, he would do what he could to prevent relatives of top officials including himself from taking positions that could give the impression of giving access to the US would have helped.

All I can think is that some Democrats wish that either Biden would say - with clarity - that taking that position was wrong, though legal -- with no weasel words suggesting that implied that only retrospect was it seena bad idea. In fact, Chris Heinz, Teresa's son, not only argued against it, but immediately took the steps to sever their business ties - a pretty drastic step.

However, it is very likely that Joe Biden has gone as far as he can on this. This challenges his integrity, but his love and concern for his son might mean he will not say that it was wrong and that he should have personally told his son to step down as soon as he learned of it.